The missing submarine "Titan" was operated with a low-quality $30 Logitech gamepad and disregarded safety rules.
Details have emerged online regarding the construction of the "Titan" submarine, owned by OceanGate Expeditions, which disappeared a few days ago while diving to the Titanic wreck site. According to reports, the design of the underwater vessel clearly did not adhere to the construction and safety standards for such devices. In particular, the steering was controlled by a wireless Logitech F710 gamepad from 2010, which cost $30, as reported by Arstechnika.
The use of such a gamepad for submarine control is highly questionable, but even more surprising is the choice of model. According to online user reviews, the Logitech F710 model released in 2010 is known for its poor quality. Users mentioned frequent disconnections between the controllers and computers or consoles, as well as complaints about buttons getting stuck. It is unknown why the designers opted for this particular model for control, considering there are plenty of modern and reliable wired or wireless controllers available on the market.
The construction of the vessel had other flaws as well. For instance, it required external assistance to open or close, meaning that even if the "Titan" managed to resurface, the crew would still have to wait for help to open the external hatch. Given the limited oxygen supply, this significantly reduced their chances of survival.
Furthermore, according to online information, the submarine lacked certification. According to other sources, the "Titan" was only certified for diving to a depth of 1,200 meters, while the wreckage of the Titanic, which it was heading towards, lies at a depth of 3,800 meters. It is also reported that the only engineer who warned about the dangers of using this vessel for such deep dives was dismissed.
Five people were on board the missing vessel, including Hamish Harding, a British billionaire and adventure enthusiast, as well as Stockton Rush, the CEO of the company that developed the submarine. The submarine disappeared on Sunday during the dive, and communication with the research vessel "Polar Prince" was lost approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes after the start of the expedition. The last known location was in the North Atlantic, approximately 1,600 km east of Cape Cod. Shortly after, search and rescue operations began and are still ongoing. At the time of writing, there were only a few hours of oxygen remaining on board the "Titan." Even if it is found before the oxygen supply is depleted, the rescue operation will take significantly longer, leaving little hope for the survival of the crew.