I mean, unless that controller is what caused this incident I don’t see how that’s anything other than a cheap shot at the company behind this debacle. Not that they and their submarine aren’t sketchy for plenty of other reasons, but “they used common off-the-shelf tech for part of their thing!” shouldn’t alarm anyone. It’s such common practice across the scientific, military, and tech communities to use commercial off-the-shelf solutions when it makes sense to do so, because why would you reinvent something like the computer mouse if you don’t have to?

After seeing pics of the submarine, it seems like the Logitech controller is actually the least sketchy part.

That’s not new idea US Navy is using Xbox 360 Controller in USS Colorado submarine - https://www.theverge.com/2018/3/18/17136808/us-navy-uss-colorado-xbox-controller

Yea nothing new. The technology in these things is decades old, fully perfected and unless you’re using some Nintendo parts, bullet-proof. There isn’t much anyone can do to improve on proven game controller technology without exorbitant costs. Heck, in a sub you probably won’t throw the pad against the wall, so it should last centuries.

Here is a submariners take on the accident with the information available so far:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dka29FSZac