Submarine missing near Titanic used a $30 Logitech gamepad for steering (arstechnica.com)

Article summary

A submarine on an expedition to the Titanic wreck site has gone missing with five people on board, and it was revealed that the vessel used a $30 Logitech gamepad for steering. The submarine's design and safety features have been called into question, with some criticizing the use of off-the-shelf components in a life-critical system. The US Coast Guard is conducting a search and rescue operation, and an investigation will likely follow to determine the cause of the incident. The gamepad, a Logitech F710, is a wireless PC controller that has been in production since 2010.

Main themes

• submarine safety
• COTS components
• gamepad reliability
• design and testing
• critical systems
• Dunning-Kruger effect

What commenters say

• Using commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components in critical systems can be reliable and cost-effective, but may not be suitable for all applications.
• The use of a gamepad in a submarine's control system is a concern due to potential reliability and safety issues.
• The criticism of the gamepad's use is unfair, as it is a reliable and well-tested component that has been used in other demanding applications.
• The issue is not the cost or brand of the gamepad, but rather the suitability of a handheld, wireless controller for life-critical control systems.
• The Dunning-Kruger effect may be at play in the designers' and operators' confidence in their ability to safely operate the submarine despite its unconventional design.
• The use of COTS components can be beneficial in terms of leveraging mass market research and development, but may require additional testing and validation for critical systems.
• The reliability and durability of the gamepad are not the primary concerns, but rather the potential for sudden and unexpected control inputs or loss of control due to wireless connection issues or other factors.