The Smart Robotic Control System found on page 134 of the third printing of Interstellar Operations: Alternate Eras is explicitly described as being most common for commercial aerospace units. The Advanced Robotic Transport system (page 141, IO:AE) is described as being based on robotic warehouses, and further specified to "greatly [streamline] shipping".
However, the rules for actually using robotic cargo transports are somewhat sparse. While there's a decision tree for robots on transport missions, it only concerns itself with transports that find themselves in a combat zone.
I have a few questions:
1. Can an unmanned unit unload its own cargo:
a. in a standard Small Craft bay or while docked to a manned unit, without the help of live personnel (if they're busy unloading something else, for instance)?
b. in an ARTS Small Craft bay on a manned unit, without the help of live personnel?
c. in an ARTS Small Craft bay on or while docked to an unmanned unit?
2. If any answer to question 1 was yes, does it apply to:
a. breakbulk/general cargo
b. containerized cargo (given the background of the ARTS, it seems exceptionally unlikely it cannot at least handle this)
c. insulated cargo
d. refrigerated cargo
e. liquid cargo (potentially including fuel tanks)
f. livestock cargo
3. If any answer to question 1 was yes, how quickly is cargo moved? Is it different based on cargo variant? Can live personnel assist at the same time?
4. Can a Control Unit order an unmanned unit to land in or dock to a destination unit, load and/or unload specific cargo, launch or undock, and return to a destination? Could it order the unit to do this on loop?
