re: Smart Landing systems
.. sounds good in terms of redundancy and mass savings, but i still wonder about depending on automated hazard avoidance systems - MER using them to move around rocks is one thing, but landing with them would surely be hairt-trigger stuff. As you say, select a safe spot, start imaging from high up, have radar/lidar backup - and use these same instruments again on the ground. At least that design would maximise the chances of success ..