@arstechnica If that's true, it's horrible. As a former aircraft owner, I know that there are a small number of them who use hardware-store fasteners in critical locations instead of the spec ones, and that they sometimes result in fatalities. But I can't imagine even the most-reckless of them installing a game controller as a primary system.
@Viss@arstechnica Does it really? What’s wrong with an off the shelf part compared to a bespoke, especially designed gadget of the same functionality ?
@FrankEndrullat@arstechnica well, normally, equipment that goes into high risk scenarios (in spacecraft, in aircraft, inside some commercial vehicles, DEFINITELY submarines) tends to have to adhere to very strict manufacturing guidelines, which means it has to pass a certain amount of rigorous testing, and its usually that which drives up the cost, regardless of if the part is bespoke or not.
off the shell video game gear absolutely does not qualify as 'rigorously tested equipment'.
@Viss@arstechnica Eventually they’ll find it and determine what caused the issue. Until then, it’s all just speculation, unfortunately. Let’s hope they’ll find them in time.
@FrankEndrullat@arstechnica theres no telling wtf the actual issue was here - but if the fact they thought an off the shelf video game controller was ok to use in a sub that is going nearly 4km underwater, it telegraphs the possibility that they may have made other similar decisions.
@Viss@arstechnica Oh yeah. I was always surprised that it literally took decades to touch upon and slightly improve on what was done in the 60s with deep sea exploration. Apparently deep sea is at least equally challenging as space. Probably much more so from a material point of view.
@FrankEndrullat@arstechnica it isnt until you take 'stuff that was designed on the ground and made to use on the ground ... off of the ground' that you realize 'oh fuck theres a bunch of shit we didnt consider'.
@arstechnica "Wow, it's so horrible that those people are alone, stuck in a tiny metal vessel somewhere in the cold oce---WHAT! Is that a Logitech 710!? I HAVE to get one!"
@arstechnica there’s no problem with using a game controller to operate a submarine. What is a problem, is a total lack of fully redundant controls to ensure safety.
@arstechnica It is important to mention that the only reason they are pulling off these expensive efforts is solely related to the fact they have 5 rich people in the little thing they used. Including the actual owner of the company that owns the submersible.
If these were just 5 randos with no financial importance, they'd be ruled out as "already lost".
@arstechnica@darnell The irony being this: That the business was designed to make a fortune, but invest the least amount of $ into the operation. Wow, those guys coulda become billionaires! #CircleOfGreed. (People get rich off of not caring about the well-being/safety of others)
@arstechnica I have various poorly-refined questions about whether this actually matters. Does anyone know if current mini subs are all reliant on precision manual analog controls, or could it work like drones now do with the "controller" just telling the computer where to go?
@arstechnica The more I learn about this thing, the more insane it all sounds. The controller is one thing, but the lack of emergency features and aspects such as the hatch are just mindboggling.
@arstechnica the sad thing is that the controller sells out within minutes of a tragedy. Submarines are unforgiving.
DSRMV Rescues are only in the movies or for nuclear subs with appropriate docking hatches.
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