Does a robot drone with a vehicle body need a Pilot Skill Program to pilot itself?

[Mersharr]

I've been looking into drones lately and the title already says it all... On one hand, it seems reasonable that any advanced manoeuvrers require a pilot skill, just like a human without specific physical skills simply can't do certain things, despite being in full control of their own body. On the other hand, there is no option to take a singular pilot skill, and I do not see my airplane sitting behind the wheel of a car any time soon.

[Library Ogre]

Skelebots don't need a "walking" skill, but we don't use a walking skill to cross the room (glares at Rolemaster). A robot plane chasing another plane, though, will need a "Pilot Myself" skill; a piloting skill for its own body is the easiest way for it to interact with other rules about vehicle piloting.

They may not be able to pilot other planes, but they can pilot their own model.

[Aermas]

The Drone isn't piloting anything.
The A.I. installed in a vehicle is piloting the vehicle

[Warshield73]

Skelebots don't need a "walking" skill, but we don't use a walking skill to cross the room (glares at Rolemaster). A robot plane chasing another plane, though, will need a "Pilot Myself" skill; a piloting skill for its own body is the easiest way for it to interact with other rules about vehicle piloting.

They may not be able to pilot other planes, but they can pilot their own model.

This isn't just a problem with AI drones but with all sorts of flying creatures and even things like Mechanoids. You don't necessarily need an actual piloting skill but it helps to have a percentage number that indicates their skill in maneuvering to interact with piloting skills. I tend to base it on Physical Prowess and then add the IQ skill bonus, if any but that is just house rule. Thankfully this is really only a problem for air/space creatures and occasionally underwater.

[Library Ogre]

I should note: I am understanding "drone" to mean "independent AI of at least rudimentary intelligence, which may take orders, but is in complete control of its own actions" not "remote control helicopter."

[taalismn]

A Piloting skill at a set value might be a good reflection of how capable the drone AI is at dealing with special maneuvers, flying in bad weather, recovering from spins or stalls, etc.
So at the very least it should have a skill to pilot its own body, with the rest of the program package devoted to related skills.
So some fudging of the basic rules, I'd permit.

The Heroes Unlimited ROBOT OCC class is more flexible in this regard as it allows you to create new skill programs.

[Grazzik]

Agree with the general comments - using the skill to effect special maneuvers... like a martial art or juggling for a biological.

I also support using attributes for hard unskilled actions, just not special maneuvers... if there is no skill, then attribute checks can still help determine whether hard actions succeed. Easy to do for non-vehicular drones who have attributes. As I've posted before, for biological PCs, I use attribute checks to see if anything happens while just doing stuff - you don't need the Running skill to run but can still trip up, nor the Climb skill to climb over a low wall or gate but can still fall if unbalanced or slip.

I see the same of an autonomous drone car - the pilot skill allows the car drone do fancy moves like doing a 180 to end up driving backwards (note: combat driving could be like the car version of a martial arts), while an attribute check could be applied to basic but hard actions like using SPD when accelerating quickly from zero. I also think vehicular drones should have PS and PP attributes of some kind to determine their payload, towing capacity, and agility to change direction. High attributes could impact vehicular combat through bonuses.

[Mersharr]

I should note: I am understanding "drone" to mean "independent AI of at least rudimentary intelligence, which may take orders, but is in complete control of its own actions" not "remote control helicopter."

Yes, I mean Robot Drone as defined in Sourcebook 1 p. 13