That Logitech joystick model was a staple HID (Human Interface Device) and wireless peripheral for many robotics researchers and corporations. Pairing and range was better than any 2010’s Bluetooth, and more compatible than OEM or hobby grade RF controllers. So many ROS projects used those. If both Xbox and PS DualShock controllers get cought amidst similar public ridicule, then we’ll have nothing left! 🎮🙃
I remember using them in my high school robotics club. And honestly, I think the controller was probably one of the least sketchy things about the sub. Lots of fields use game controllers to handle equipment since they’re well designed for that. There were many other things that were far worse.
Yep, I’ve seen reporting of Navy’s using them for controlling periscopes on submarines (now that most are drive by wire), or Air forces using them for piloting drones, as well as for teleoperated robotic thoracic surgeries.
The widespread user familiarity and benefits in transferable hand coordination skills with common gaming based HID economics is hard to refute. Although, I’m guessing the market for safety certified joysticks will uptick.
to be fair no one in their right mind would use a wireless controller for something like a submersible
I mean they are all using first party xbox controllers, not a logitech knockoff that sucked even 10 years ago compared to first party 360 controllers.
Ok, but how many of those projects will result in death if one of the thumb sticks gets stuck or if the Bluetooth loses signal?
If it results in death when the controller stops working, you have a serious issue with the system architecture and should work on that instead of trying to improve the controller.
Batteries in the controller run out and you forgot to bring any more double As
Out in the wild? Perhaps quite a few. For example, for teleoperated robotic thoracic surgeries, I imagine medical grade HID should mandate safety certified hardware that doesn’t rely on electrically noisy mechanical potentiometers, subject to Dead zone drift, or non-deterministic dead man behavior under failure modes. Although I’m certain there’s various reasons not to use hall effect sensing devices even within the same facility as MRI machines.
That wasn’t the dumb part of that submersible. Game controllers are actually really good at what they do. The dumb part is that it was built like an airplane.
Textual transcription of meme: (two panels)
First panel: laughing group of people gathered around a phone, captioned:
“The Internet laughing at the Titan submersible using a Logitech controller”Second panel: the Awkward Look Monkey Puppet meme, captioned:
“The robotics community”Related: [META] We should help transcribe our memes for RBlind!
I just feel like maybe you shouldn’t use Bluetooth when it’s life and death.
