The story of the missing OceanGate Expeditions tourist submarine has captivated the world. The vessel, named Titan, was on a mission to explore the wreckage of the Titanic when it disappeared with five people on board. As details emerged, it became clear that the sub’s design did not meet regulations, and its steering was apparently handled by a $30 Logitech F710 wireless PC game controller from 2010.
The crew included British billionaire and adventure enthusiast Hamish Harding, as well as OceanGate’s founder and CEO, Stockton Rush. The sub was last reported in the North Atlantic, approximately 900 miles east of Cape Cod, in a water body known to have a depth of about 13,000 feet. Search and rescue operations are still underway, but the entire sub is bolted shut from the outside, meaning that even if it surfaces, the occupants cannot escape without outside assistance and could suffocate within the capsule.
As the world watches and waits, details about OceanGate’s history of avoiding or complaining about safety regulations have emerged. In particular, people have been sharing a CBS Sunday Morning segment broadcast in November 2022 that shows reporter David Pogue visiting the Titan, which he later boarded for an expedition to the Titanic. During the clip, Rush gives Pogue a tour of the sub, noting the presence of “only one button” in the entire vessel and saying that a sub “should be like an elevator.”
One detail that has caught the attention of many is the fact that the sub’s steering was apparently handled by a Logitech F710 wireless PC game controller from 2010. While its chunky design appears outdated by today’s standards, it has been in continuous production for 13 years, and it usually sells for about $29.99 on Amazon. Shortly after news of the Logitech controller aboard the Titan spread, the Cheap Ass Gamer Twitter account posted an Amazon link to the controller, and the item quickly sold out.
While the use of a $30 PC game controller for operations does not inspire confidence in the Titan’s construction, the exact cause of the submarine’s disappearance is currently unknown. Efforts are focused on locating the submarine and crew, after which an investigation will likely attempt to determine the cause of the incident. Authorities, fearing for the lives of the crew aboard, have deployed multiple resources to assist in the search operation. On Monday afternoon, the US Coast Guard estimated that the Titan may have about 70 to 96 hours of oxygen left.
In a shocking turn of events that has shocked the world, a submarine searching near the wreckage of the famous Titanic has gone missing. Reports say that the submarine was using a $30 Logitech Gamepad for steering during its search operations.
The submarine was part of an exploration mission jointly partnered by a private company and the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defense. The purpose of this exploration was to locate any scattered wreckage and possible unexplored artifacts from the infamous Titanic shipwreck. Despite a clear voyage plan and advanced safety measures, the submarine never returned.
An investigation is underway to try to uncover the cause of the vessel’s disappearance. One possible explanation is that the poor quality of the Logitech Gamepad, which was used for the submarine’s steering, may have failed to provide a reliable and accurate performance. The device is designed with an ergonomic design for comfort, but it has limited force feedback capabilities which may have been inadequate for such a delicate operation.
It has been theorized that a malfunction in the gamepad, combined with the vessel’s size, speed, and navigational complexity, could have been a contributor to the submarine’s loss. This, along with a weak energy source and limited technology, could have caused the vessel to drift off course and be unable to be tracked or recovered.
As the investigation continues, the loved ones of the crew aboard the vessel remain in limbo, hoping for news about the whereabouts of their family members. Many are questioning why the submarine was equipped with a cheap and unreliable gamepad, instead of a more sophisticated and reliable device, to navigate its way through the hazardous waters near the Titanic wreck.
At present, there has been no news or sign of the submarine, and many fear the worst. What should have been a routine operation to discover more about the Titanic disaster has instead taken a much darker turn.
