What Was Running the Titanic Submersible? It Could Be a $49.99 Videogame Controller
Tech analysts say videogame controllers are often used in other applications
2 min
The missing submersible headed for the Titanic shipwreck may have been operated by a wireless video game controller that sells online for $49.99.
Stockton Rush, founder and chief executive of OceanGate Expeditions, which owns the Titan submersible, said in a 2022 segment with CBS News that the vessel was operated by a video game controller.
“We run the whole thing with this game controller,” Rush said during the news segment, holding what appeared to be a modified wireless gamepad made by computer-peripherals company Logitech International.
It’s unclear if OceanGate Expeditions was using a Logitech controller on the Titan when it started its mission on Sunday. A spokesperson for OceanGate declined to comment. Logitech didn’t respond to requests for comment.
The Titan lost contact with the ship monitoring it from the surface one hour and 45 minutes after it began its dive in the North Atlantic on Sunday morning. The Titanic sits about 13,000 feet below the ocean’s surface and about 900 miles off Massachusetts’ Cape Cod.
Rescuers are trying to find the submersible before its oxygen runs out, which officials say could happen Thursday morning. The Titan’s five-member crew includes Rush.
The controller the Titan used in the past appeared to be a modified Logitech F710 gamepad with extended joysticks.
An earlier version of OceanGate’s submersible vessels called the Cyclops was operated by a Sony PlayStation 3 controller, according to a 2014 promotional video released by OceanGate.
The Logitech F710 gamepad was first available in 2010. It’s compatible with computers running on the Windows and ChromeOS operating systems.
Such controllers can be adapted for piloting other machines, as long as the controller and the machine are using the same signal, said Michael Pachter, a managing director at Wedbush Securities.
Game controllers are commonly used in applications beyond video games, said Will McKeon-White, an analyst at technology research firm Forrester. The U.S. military and foreign militaries use them to control vehicles and in other applications because they are fairly intuitive and users often have an existing familiarity with them, he said. The Pentagon didn’t respond to a request for comment.
“The problem with the usage of a Logitech controller here isn’t the fact that a game controller was used,” McKeon-White said. “The issue is they chose a really, really cheap model.”
The military typically expects to have a backup when it uses video game controllers, McKeon-White said. That way “it’s not a situation of ‘your life only relies on a video game controller,’ ” he said.
OceanGate didn’t say if there were backup controlling devices available on the Titan.
Pachter said the Logitech gamepad is considered a durable device made of commonplace parts.
“Every single component of that thing is a commodity component that doesn’t break,” he said, though “they do wear out after a while.”
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Lamborghini Esperienza Giro 2024 in Langhe, Piedmont
3 min
A three-day super sports car driving experience immersed in authentic Italian culture, the Esperienza Giro brought together Lamborghini super sports car owners from across Europe for an exclusive tour celebrating the picturesque region of Langhe in Piedmont, northern Italy. Participants enjoyed luxurious accommodations, exceptional authentic dining, and an immersive experience of the region’s culture, traditions, and landscapes, during the exclusive VIP experience all organized by Automobili Lamborghini.
Il Boscareto Resort and Spa, nestled between the hills of Serralunga d’Alba, provided a luxurious setting for the guests. Upon arrival, Lamborghini clients were treated to a two Michelin-starred dinner crafted by chef Michelangelo Mammoliti at the Rei Natura restaurant, which embraces the natural elements of the region in both its interior design and cuisine.
The tour covered a total of 488 kilometers over several days, beginning with a drive to the medieval Castello di Prunetto, where guests enjoyed a specially curated hazelnut tasting experience, a regional delicacy. The super sports cars then proceeded to Pico Maccario winery, known for its innovative winemaking techniques, picturesque vineyards, and the historic Cru Cannubi wine: a bottle of which is recognized as the oldest in Italy (dated 1752), and considered one of the most important vineyards in the world. Set in rolling vineyards punctuated with the famous Pico colored pencils, denoting the different varieties of grapes and wines, the Lamborghini owners enjoyed a private tour of the production facilities and a lunch before heading back to Il Boscareto. The day ended at the remote 11th century Castello di Grinzane Cavour, a site of significant importance in Italian history and owned over the centuries by several noble Piedmontese families where guests attended a dinner in a medieval setting entertained by flag-throwers and a falconry performance.
The following day featured an exhilarating drive through mountain scenery with a coffee stop at BAart in Agliano Terme, a village renowned for its Barbera grape winemaking and gastronomy. BAart, located in the deconsecrated Chiesa di San Michele, is a community project that blends contemporary art with traditional regional flavors. The group then visited Castello di Razzano, a historic estate dating back to the 17th century, for a private lunch featuring local products, including the estate’s own olive oil. The day ended with a private dinner at Winery Cecilia Monte, where guests savored typical Piedmontese dishes and participated in a unique workshop using wine as paint.
Heading off on day four the Lamborghini owners arrived at Santuario dei Piloni for a mid-morning stop, in a craggy, rural area famed for its history and traditions; here, participants engaged in a truffle hunting experience with dogs, culminating with a tasting of the finest truffle. The tour concluded with a drive to Pollenzo, an ancient city on the banks of the Tanaro river and the home to the University of Gastronomic Studies. Reflecting the university’s dedication to culinary excellence, guests experienced a private lunch of Piedmontese specialities next door at Scuderie Sabaude, where the king of Italy’s stables once stood. Like each edition of Esperienza Giro, Lamborghini guests in Langhe enjoyed a holistic journey incorporating the exceptional and emotional performance of Lamborghini super sports cars, while celebrating the enduring allure of local cultural experiences, exceptional cuisines and Italian heritage.
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