The submersible vessel, which has been missing since Sunday, had five people on board who each paid $250,000 for the underwater tour. A CBS News report from last year highlighted that the craft is piloted with a video game controller, which caused some surprise and amusement among journalists. The reporter described it as “MacGyver jerry-riggedness.”
Video game controllers have been used in real-life vehicles worldwide for over a decade, including by the military. For example, Xbox 360 controllers were used to pilot unmanned aerial vehicles in the British Army recruitment ad in 2008. They were also used to operate explosive ordnance disposal robots in Afghanistan in 2011. The U.S. Navy’s USS Colorado became the first submarine to use Xbox 360 controllers to operate periscopes in 2017. In 2020, Israel Aerospace Industries implemented Xbox controllers for its Carmel battle tank model.
Military sources have cited that younger recruits are already familiar with video game controllers, making them a logical choice for controlling real-life vehicles. Additionally, Xbox controllers are compatible with various computer operating systems, including Windows, due to Microsoft’s ownership of the Xbox brand.
It is worth noting the specific controller used on the Titanic vessel. It was identified as a Logitech G-F710 controller, which was released in 2011 and is known for its high quality. The controller operates wirelessly through Bluetooth, unlike the wired controllers used in military applications, eliminating the risk of disconnection and radio transmission issues.
The reason behind the vessel going missing is still unknown, and multiple factors could have contributed to the incident. Therefore, it would be premature to blame any specific part. In footage of tours given by OceanGate chief executive Stockton Rush, the Logitech controller with modified joysticks can be seen, but it still operates wirelessly as Rush throws it around the vessel.
Amazon reviews for the controller, priced at $29.99, are mixed. While the controller generally works, some reviews mention disconnectio issues due to its wireless nature.
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