ORIGINAL: cj_rumley
I don't see anything in sUAS ARC recommendations to indicate that nixing of autonomous control of MA is on Uncle's agenda.
From the Definition section in the ARC Recommendations:
Model Aircraft: A sUAS used by hobbyists and flown within visual line-of-sight under
direct control from the pilot, which can navigate the airspace, and which is manufactured or
assembled, and operated for the purposes of sport, recreation and/or competition.
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My quote was from the ARC Recommendations as published by the FAA. "Direct Control" means just that, direct control. Autonomous flight is not under direct control.
Perhaps this helps, it is from later in the ARC Recommendations but mentions models:
9.3 Group I Additional Operational Capabilities
In addition to the operational capabilities outlined in Section 7 of this regulation the following capabilities are required:
(1) Manual Flight Control: Group I SUAS must be capable of only manual flight control, ensuring that PIC control inputs made in the Control Station are translated
directly into corresponding control surface positions.
RATIONALE: The idea for Group I aircraft were that they are operated like a Model Aircraft for compensation and hire. Model Aircraft are not
generally operated in any other manner than manual flight control. Such a system is likely to be less complex and thus easier for a non-license PIC
to operate.
For operations requiring other than manual flight control (i.e., auto flight management) would thus have to be operated as Group II.
This seems very clear to me that as far as the FAA is concerned a model is under direct manual control.