After it has been revealed that the Titanic submersible was operated by an old Logitech gaming controller, a former OceanGate subcontractor was quick to defend its usage.
Stock Rush, the founder and CEO of OceanGate, previously said that the sub only has ‘one button’ and held up the controller that piloted it.
“We run the sub with this game controller,” he said as he held up a Logitech F710 gaming controller.
“It’s basically a Sony PlayStation-style controller,” Rush continued. “If you want to go forward, you press forward. If you want to go back, you press back.”
Titan has dimensions of 263in x 110in x 98in, just big enough to accommodate five people. It also featured heated walls, a toilet, and a music system.
After the company received backlash due to its piloting method, Doug Virning – a former subcontractor of OceanGate – explained to CNN why the company decided to use a gaming controller.
“It seems kind of cheesy, but if you knew the amount of technology that was packed in that controller and its capabilities, and the amount of money that it costs to develop something like that, it’s just off the chart,” he said.
Virning also explained that the controller was specially designed as the company had to lower costs on research and development.
“So if you can take these components off the shelf and incorporate them into a project like this, where you don’t have the research and development timelines and expense, that I believe is a wise choice,” he went on.
The subcontractor also stated that OceanGate’s aim was to research the ocean and not tourism.
“(OceanGate has) gone cutting edge where they needed to,” he said, adding the company “incorporated a good bit of conventional wisdom.”
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