The Controversial Tech Behind The Lacking Titanic Submersible

CBS reporter David Pogue was a part of a Titan crew in 2022, throughout which he revealed a number of worrying nuggets of details about the submersible vessel’s design. For instance, he stated that the vessel was piloted with a Logitech F710 wi-fi recreation controller that had some modifications performed, reminiscent of substituting the route joysticks with a pair of customized sticks for higher navigation.

Now, one can argue that if the U.S. Navy can use Xbox 360 controllers with its submarines, why cannot the Titan? Effectively, there is a essential distinction right here: the Navy makes use of the controller to function a submarine’s periscopes relatively than counting on it to maneuver the automobile. As properly, the Logitech F710 is an inexpensive controller that was first launched available on the market greater than a decade in the past. With regards to issues of life and dying, it looks like utilizing such an previous, cheap controller is an uncommon selection.

As well as, there’s stated to be solely a single button contained in the vessel (to show it on), with the remainder of the management programs involving computer systems and digital shows — a lot in the identical approach that many fashionable automobiles have changed buttons and dials with contact screens. Whereas the design was meant to make working the submersible a low-skill activity, that very same design could also be an issue if the submersible has misplaced all electrical energy, significantly as it’s depending on Starlink for communications.