Titan submersible controlled by Logitech Gamepad goes missing: All you need to know

A submersible carrying five people on a tour of the Titanic recently went missing. Contact with the sub named the 'Titan' was lost less than two hours after it launched.

While extensive rescue efforts are underway, the speculation surrounding its disappearance points to compromises in the sub's hardware. One shocking development in the incident was the use of a modified old wireless Logitech F710 gamepad to steer the sub.

Why was the Titan controlled by a game controller?

The use of the video game controller to steer the 23,000-pound Titan vessel on its dives 13,000 feet below sea level has set the internet ablaze, sparking outrage and mockery among the community and claims that the sub was destined to fail. Using a video game controller to pilot the Titan isn't unusual. The Verge noted that the US Navy also uses gamepads to control submarine periscopes and the photonic masts.

Game controllers are comfortable to use and are easy to get accustomed to but aren't prone to malfunctioning, particularly if it is an older model like the F710 controller, which has raised eyebrows. However, the use of game controllers isn't uncommon as some experts say that it is easier to control these vessels using them.

How does the Titan navigate the deep seas?

Stockton Rush, the CEO of OceanGate Expeditions, the company responsible for the Titan's deep-sea tours, said, "We run the whole thing... with this game controller." However, Rush noted that this wasn't just a controller steering a submarine periscope but the vessel itself.

Submersibles cannot rely on GPS signals for navigation as the signals cannot penetrate the water, so they use a text messaging system. The surface ship sends text messages to the submersible, which include instructions on how to navigate. The modified video game controller is then used to steer the submersible.

Was the Titan unsafe for deep sea diving?

CBS News correspondent David Pogue tweeted about his experience last year joining the crew of the Titan and a group of tourists to see the wreckage of the Titanic. The Titan advertised to use "state-of-the-art lighting and sonar navigation systems plus internally and externally mounted 4K video and photographic equipment."

Pogue appeared to be laughing after seeing the Titan's controls. However, his experience was distressing. On one of the dives, where Pogue stayed on the ship, the submersible got lost for hours and never located the wreckage. During that time, OceanGate shut off internet access, claiming all available channels were needed to try and maintain contact with the sub.

This was an alarming development, particularly considering a seat aboard the Titan reportedly costs $250,000. Additionally, passengers are expected to sign a release prior to the expedition that explains, "this experimental vessel has not been approved or certified by any regulatory body, and could result in physical injury, emotional trauma, or death."

Was the Titan destined to fail?

While it is still too early to say what exactly happened to the Titan, several concerns were raised about the vessel's safety measures. The New York Times published a letter written in 2018 by a group of industry leaders that warned Rush of possible "catastrophic" problems with the development of the Titan.

The Guardian reported that The Marine Technology Society, an industry group made up of ocean engineers, technologists, policymakers, and educators, expressed concerns over the Titan's development and OpenGate's experimental approach to deep sea expeditions.

The Marine Technology Society was critical of OceanGate's marketing material, which stated that the Titan's design would "meet or exceed the DNV-GL safety standards." However, the vessel was never assessed by the DNV, which would examine it and ensure "internationally recognised rules" were followed during the construction and operation phase.

Criticism and lack of Regulation

OpenGate CEO Stockton Rush criticised the commercial sub industry in a 2019 interview with the Smithsonian Magazine. Rush noted that the industry had not "innovated or grown - because they have all these regulations".

As of now, details about the Titan's industry certifications are unclear, although we noted above that a CBS News reporter signed a waiver noting that the Titan was an experimental vessel and wasn't certified by any regulator body.

However, OpenGate has cited safety innovations onboard the Titan, including "carbon fiber pressure vessels and a real-time (RTM) hull health monitoring system." However, a 2018 lawsuit filed by OceanGate's former director of marine operations, David Lochridge, questioned the submersible's hull to withstand such depths.