Aye, Howard is semi-autonomous. He has some learning capabilities, but they're basic at most. Howard isn't much of a main character, but he is a side one. (By the way you can stop typing H.O.W.A.R.D. because that shit gets tiring after saying his name like twenty times.) However (if) the RP goes on for longer than a single mission, I'm thinking of giving Howard upgrades from time to time. Slowly making him smarter, faster, stronger. I think that it would make a lot of sense if Howard develops more of a personality as time goes on. 

By the way, he could totally swim through it once I give him flippers and a snorkel.