The U.S. Navy Is Using Xbox Controllers on Submarines
An easier and more cost-effective option.
The US Navy will start collecting a number of Xbox controllers for its Virginia-class submarines starting with the USS Colorado which is set to be commissioned in November. Sailors will use the controllers to maneuver its periscope which utilizes high-resolution cameras and displays the images on bigger screens. This is unlike most periscopes which only allows a single person to peer through an eyepiece.
The original controller was costly to develop, around $38,000 USD. It was also heavy and clunky and took hours of training to man properly. Xbox controllers were able to cut costs down and reduced functionality training to only a few minutes.
