Yes, we can assign variables from child controller to the variables in parent controller. This is one possible way:
Overview: The main aim of the code, below, is to assign child controller's $scope.variable to parent controller's $scope.assign
Explanation: There are two controllers. In the html, notice that the parent controller encloses the child controller. That means the parent controller will be executed before child controller. So, first setValue() will be defined and then the control will go to the child controller. $scope.variable will be assigned as "child". Then this child scope will be passed as an argument to the function of parent controller, where $scope.assign will get the value as "child"
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<script src="https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/angularjs/1.6.4/angular.min.js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript">
var app = angular.module('myApp',[]);
app.controller('child',function($scope){
$scope.variable = "child";
$scope.$parent.setValue($scope);
});
app.controller('parent',function($scope){
$scope.setValue = function(childscope) {
$scope.assign = childscope.variable;
}
});
</script>
<body ng-app="myApp">
<div ng-controller="parent">
<p>this is parent: {{assign}}</p>
<div ng-controller="child">
<p>this is {{variable}}</p>
</div>
</div>
</body>
</html>