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Comment by thesausageking | Hacker News Reader

They have multiple of them on board and can swap in a new one if there's an issue. The focus on the controller is misplaced to me. Game controllers are well made and better suited for the job than custom hardware. It's just the association with videogames that makes it seem odd.

If they used $30 logitech keyboard as well, would anyone question that?

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Pros of having a wireless controller: freedom of movement (in this case in a very cramped environment) and not having as much of a tangled cord situation.

Cons: desynchronization issues, transmitter goes bad, receiver goes bad, interference, batteries run up, someone forgets to pack batteries, someone forgets to check if the backup batteries are still good.

WHAT were they thinking??

Hmmm, from what I've read subs can get damp because of temperature and pressure changes. All of what you said combined with condensation.

The controller indicates poor engineering & safety culture. It simply isn't fit for life critical purpose.

And if someone drains the spares and forgets to charge them? I doubt they have pre-sink checks where they plug in all the batteries.

It’s stupid because it adds needless risk and another failure point for no benefit.

this are literal life or death situations we are talking about, not some office drama when someone spilled coffee on keyboard and went home

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