[topspin]

Point of information; certified autoland systems appeared on airliners in 1968. Yes, we're a ways off from the level of automation for a fully pilotless system as proposed here, but I think it a matter of a few years, perhaps a decade.

[jonfw]

You know what they say- the last 20% of the problem is 80% of the effort. I think that these percentages probably understate things, but the point is that getting something to be mostly functional in ideal circumstances really isn't much of an achievement.

[topspin]

"mostly functional in ideal circumstances"

Autoland was developed for and is usually used in poor conditions.