Thomas B,
I can see this technology becoming a sort of super failsafe for R/C models. If the normal control signal is lost, the model would decend and auto land at a specific GPS point away from the flyers, near the middle of the model field. That could be MUCH safer than allowing models to crash anywhere or possibly fly far away and crash, if control is lost. The current technology of the failsafe radio allows a model to crash anywhere at any attitude or speed at low throttle. This could be and needs to be improved on.
I think this would be a great reason to allow autonomous flight, but only as a safety measure. Problem is that there is always a group willing to use technology for something it was not designed for. Atomic power comes to mind....But I still think it is worth pursuing as a safety feature.