Originally Posted by
NutLoose
I take it this thing is flown by a crew onto the ships from some control station? Where are the crews, onboard ship? I ask because in rough seas it must be interesting as you will I take it be flying a visual approach to a ship while your body is sensing the roll and pitch not of the aircraft, but that of the ship.
if it is auto land I wonder how the system copes with the sudden and variable altitude change as it passes over the end of the ship.
I don't think it's been made clear yet, however I don't see how it's going to be much different to the X-47B. The deck crew had a control unit for deck handling, and aircraft control can be carried out from anywhere you can get the sat link and GCS, so, on ship/off ship is fine.
I think the approach and landing is automatic. I.e. no person in the loop, except maybe a LSO type has a go-around switch.
To add, there is an operational carrier auto-land system in use (Super Hornets).