Typically, system engineers are challenged by the features they can get through automation. Automation is required when there is a need for fast reaction, which cannot be guaranteed by manual control.
In the Soyuz 11 accident, the astronauts could not complete the problem solving in the short grace time they had.
Automation is adequate when the conditions affecting the system behavior are known at design time. Automatic behavior might not be adequate if the circumstances are not predicted at design time.
Updated on 25 Jan 2017.