...send commands to the autopilot of the drone, which would execute them with the autosofts, which can run on the drone itself.
Yes.
When you "send an instruction to the on-board autopilot", the on-board autopilot will use its initiative, rating and any autosofts it have access to.
There are several advantages of doing this via a RCC (higher slave limit, multiple channels, autosoft sharing, ...) which is why drone operator riggers often access the matrix via a RCC instead of a commlink or cyberdeck, but a RCC is not required.
Does this mean, when using a "Control Device" action in AR/VR, a character would use "Piloting + Reaction/Intuition" for maneuvers and "Engineering + Logic" to fire weapons?
Yes.
When you "remote control" (via AR, VR or "jumped in"), you use your own initiative, skills and attributes.
There are advantages of doing this via a RCC (such as noise reduction), but a RCC is not required.
There are also advantages to "remote control" while "jumped in" (such as positive dice pool modifier and edge on vehicle related skill tests), but in order to "jump in" you
must have a control rig implant (or using living persona with correct echo).
why would anyone spend essence on a vehicle control rig (VCR)?
To get the option to "jump in".
SR6 p. 283 Control Rig
When you’re jumped into a vehicle or drone, the control rig provides its rating as a dice pool bonus on all vehicle skill tests and a bonus point of Edge.Because the simple matrix command "Control Device" gives you the same personal control of the drone as the vehicle control rig.
If you don't care about the positive dice pool modifier or the free Edge then you should probably not invest into a control rig.
To expand that idea, a character may use a RCC to control several drones and then use a commlink to "jump into" a specific drone, which he then controls as if he had a VCR, but without the essence cost.
A character may access the matrix via a RCC (in which case he can send the same "instruction" to multiple drones at once as one action) or he may access the matrix via a commlink or cyberdeck (in which case he can only send the "instruction" to one drone).
No matter if the character is accessing the matrix via a RCC, commlink or cyberdeck he also have the option to "remote control" one drone directly. Either from AR or from VR. Using his own skills and attributes.
No matter if the character is accessing the matrix via a RCC, commlink or cyberdeck he also have the option to "jump into" one drone. Getting positive dice pool modifier and edge on all vehicle related tests (think of it as "super VR" where you actually "become" the drone). However, this can
only be done if he have a control rig implant.
So you CAN be a rigger without a VCR
If you don't have a control rig implant then you will no longer have the option to "jump in".
(which mean you don't get a positive dice pool modifier and you also don't get free Edge on all vehicle related skill tests).
But yes, you don't need a control rig implant (nor a RCC) to "send an instruction" to the on-board autopilot of a drone.
And yes, you also don't need a control rig implant (nor a RCC) to "remote control" the drone yourself via AR or VR.
So yes, you can be a rigger without a control rig implant.
But if your character is focused on controlling drones and vehicles (which is kinda the trademark of a rigger) then you probably want both a control rig and a RCC...
...so that you may control them more
efficiently.
On the other hand when you're simply giving orders to your drone (... or even your voice)
Voice? Is this really supported....?
And in that case would you say that it is also possible to instruct someone else's drone (without having User or Admin access on the network it is connected to) by simply impersonating the voice of its owner?
This could use some clarification I think.
Control Hierarchy
This used to be a thing in SR5, agreed.
But are you sure this is is still a thing in SR6?
This could use some clarification I think.
Control Rigs offer threshold reductions to handling tests. (post errata, at any rate)
This also used to be a thing in SR5, agreed.
But are you sure this is the intention also for SR6?
This could use some clarification I think.