- The missing Titanic submersible was operated using a Logitech gamepad controller.
- Since 2018, the US Navy has been using Xbox 360 controllers to operate the photonic masts in submarines.
- According to an expert, simple designs like controllers enhance the reliability of submersibles.
The tourist submersible carrying five people that went missing during an expedition to view the Titanic shipwreck was piloted using a video-game controller. While this prompted criticism, it is worth noting that even the US Navy has employed controllers in the past.
The submersible, known as the Titan, differs from a traditional submarine in that it relies on a mothership for transportation to and from dive locations. It lacks the power to independently travel to and from port.
In an interview with CBS News, Stockton Rush, the CEO of OceanGate Expeditions, the company operating the Titan’s deep-sea tours, revealed that the submersible was operated with a modified Logitech gamepad controller. The sub receives instructions via text messages from the support ship, and the crew uses the controller to steer.
Although the use of a video game controller to pilot the 23,000-pound Titan at depths of 13,000 feet drew mockery online, some experts argue that simple devices like controllers can enhance the reliability of submersibles. Harvard marine scientist Peter Girguis explained that similar controllers are used in many undersea vessels because they are intuitive. What truly matters, according to Girguis, is the physical design, integrity, control, and safety systems of the submersible.
Furthermore, the US military also makes use of video game hardware. In 2017, the US Navy announced its adoption of Xbox 360 controllers to operate the photonic masts in submarines, replacing periscopes. The USS Colorado, a 377-foot-long sub, became the first to utilize these controllers when it joined the Navy’s fleet in 2018. The implementation of gaming controllers in major weapons systems has been reported as well.
Commander Reed Koepp, speaking to USA Today, highlighted the cost-effectiveness of the controllers and the advantage of young sailors already being familiar with them.
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