Telepresence

Telepresence is a process which enables a person to safely control a vessel from the safety of a remote location. Telepathy seems to be related to telepresence, as it was a required ability to successfully use a telepresence unit.

The Andorian Imperial Guard experimented with telepresence in the early 22nd century, though nothing came of it.

The first known successful example of a telepresence-controlled ship was developed by the Romulan Star Empire in 2154 using two modified drone ships. With the unwitting aid of an Aenar named Gareb, these ships were used to attack vessels of neighboring species. Though successful, controlling the vessels was both physically and mentally taxing on Gareb.

The Romulans' control over Gareb and the drone-ships was disrupted when the Starfleet vessel Enterprise constructed a telepresence unit of their own, allowing Gareb's sister Jhamel to contact him and show him what he was doing. Gareb was killed by the Romulans but not before programming the two drone ships to destroy one another. 

In the 24th century, Starfleet used the interface probe, which was comparable to telepresence.