Automating a starship?

Here's stumper that one of my MT campaign players just handed me the
other day.

We were talking about the campaign and he said (paraphrased) ,"As soon as
I get some more cash, I'm going to have the ship's computer upgraded so
that just one person can operate the whole thing."  This stopped me cold.
This ship currently requires a minimum crew of three: pilot, navigator,
and engineer.  The Ref. rules say that's the MINIMUM.  There are no
additional rules for anything like what my player wants to do.  Now,
I can wing it and allow him to do what he wants, but I'm concerned on
two points.

First, what would be the most logical/least-rule-bending way to do what
he wants?  My initial reaction is have him buy two stationary robots
(one for engineering and one for nav.) and require a live pilot at
all times.  My reasoning is that a 'mere' computer could never be smart
enough (within MT guidelines) to do the jobs, and it would require at
least some synaptic processing, hence robots.  My robot design skills
are pretty much non-existant, but I guess this is a good excuse to
learn how, huh?

Second, assuming that I do allow him to succeed, what effect will it
have on game balance?  I mean, I assume that GDW/DGP put those crew
minimums in there for a reason.  Will allowing a single person with
Pilot-1 to fly around the Imperium in a 200 ton Free Trader screw
things up?  My initial reaction is "No", but I feel like I'm over-
looking some points.

What do you folks think?

        Mark F. Cook

USMail: User Interface Technical Support
        Hewlett-Packard - Interface Technology Operation
        [address removed]

INTERNET: [email removed]
          [email removed]