wrote:

All those failure modes and more can happen just as easily with
Progress, Soyuz or ATV. The HTV and future spaceraft like SpaceX's
Dragon only need to approach with the grapple range area of the SSRMS,
and hold still rather than continue to close in order to accompish a
docking.

Does it really reduce flight software complexity ? Seems to me that you
still need precise guidance, ability to stop and station keep (more so
with HTV since it will need to station keep very close to the station.

Where would HTV berth ? And how far from its berthing point will it
need to station keep for the arm to go and grapple it ? couple of metres
? 10 metres ?

ATV/Soyuz/Progress use "targets" on the station to get Kurs to guide
their approach. Does the USA side have ay such targets to allow HTV to
guide itself to proper location an orientation to be grappled ?