Drone exam · UAS general knowledge

A pilot tells a client that the drone 'will always come back by itself' if something goes wrong. What is technically wrong with that statement?

Answer

Return to home depends on the aircraft's power, navigation solution, home point, obstacle clearance, configured behavior, sensor status, and the type of failure. It is a backup function, not a guarantee.

Explanation

Automation can only use the information and control authority still available. Some failures are exactly the failures that prevent an automated return from working normally.