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People are latching onto the logitech controller, but I think it's low on my concerns list. Controllers are relatively robust, and they stated they had backups,

People are latching onto the logitech controller, but I think it's low on my concerns list. Controllers are relatively robust, and they stated they had backups, and could surface without any control input by manually dumping the ballast. Much more concerning are the potential flaws in the carbon fiber hull, as disclosed during the David Lochridge lawsuit (mentioned in another thread), the rumoured lack of surface radios, the limited communication with the surface, the lack of any exits, and even the use of carbon fiber (which is strong in tension, good for high pressure tanks, but weak in compression -- not what I'd want for a submarine under massive compression)

ghostpepper 3y ago
Just to nit pick, what good is an exit going to do at 12,000 feet?
- harambae 3y ago
  The exit would've been for if they surfaced (that plus a life raft presumably)
- deleted 3y ago
  [deleted]
- wespiser_2018 3y ago
  When you have a fire and need to surface, it's going to do a lot of good. One of the Apollo crews burned alive because the ground crew couldn't unscrew the hatch fast enough during a pre-flight checkout. One of those astronauts, Gus Grisham, nearly died a previous time when the explosive bolts on another capsule fired early which caused the capsule to take on water. The problems here are just several fold: maybe the door won't help you at depth, but there's a pretty wide envelope of conditions in which a fast escape hatch is the difference between surviving a fire and burning alive. The CEO of OceanGate said he "learned the lessons of aviation", but this is obviously BS if he's locking himself in a capsule with flammable equipment, piping oxygen in, and just hoping it doesn't burn. That's a recipe for disaster we know how to avoid.
- bobbylarrybobby 3y ago
  Currently, even if they could surface, they couldn't get out of the vessel because it's locked from the outside
PepperdineG 3y ago
Actually the wireless controller points to a bigger problem like, I think the underlying reason for using a wireless controller may have been because the computers were inaccessible when the craft was under way. It's not so much the device itself, but if there was a need to use a wireless device that would point to a design flaw.
Aeolun 3y ago
I mean, there’s more egregious flaws, but I believe this thread was about the controllers? If we’re talking worst mistake I think the lack of any form of communications equipment is it. Hell, have a 4km long cable. Even if you can’t communicate because the sub is on fire or imploded you can drag them back up. Of course it’s not nice if your sub implodes, but that’s kind of a requirement for using it in the first place.

ghostpepper 3y ago

Just to nit pick, what good is an exit going to do at 12,000 feet?

harambae 3y ago
The exit would've been for if they surfaced (that plus a life raft presumably)
deleted 3y ago
[deleted]
wespiser_2018 3y ago
When you have a fire and need to surface, it's going to do a lot of good. One of the Apollo crews burned alive because the ground crew couldn't unscrew the hatch fast enough during a pre-flight checkout. One of those astronauts, Gus Grisham, nearly died a previous time when the explosive bolts on another capsule fired early which caused the capsule to take on water. The problems here are just several fold: maybe the door won't help you at depth, but there's a pretty wide envelope of conditions in which a fast escape hatch is the difference between surviving a fire and burning alive. The CEO of OceanGate said he "learned the lessons of aviation", but this is obviously BS if he's locking himself in a capsule with flammable equipment, piping oxygen in, and just hoping it doesn't burn. That's a recipe for disaster we know how to avoid.
bobbylarrybobby 3y ago
Currently, even if they could surface, they couldn't get out of the vessel because it's locked from the outside

PepperdineG 3y ago

Actually the wireless controller points to a bigger problem like, I think the underlying reason for using a wireless controller may have been because the computers were inaccessible when the craft was under way. It's not so much the device itself, but if there was a need to use a wireless device that would point to a design flaw.

Aeolun 3y ago

I mean, there’s more egregious flaws, but I believe this thread was about the controllers? If we’re talking worst mistake I think the lack of any form of communications equipment is it. Hell, have a 4km long cable. Even if you can’t communicate because the sub is on fire or imploded you can drag them back up. Of course it’s not nice if your sub implodes, but that’s kind of a requirement for using it in the first place.