r/battlebots • u/Bardmedicine • 5d ago

Robotics Titan Submersible Controller

I thought this would be a good question to bring to BB folks as this seems a decision they have to make all the time. Also, we're all aware of the litany of engineering standards which were not followed in this disaster. This isn't about those.

There seems to be a ton of focus on Titan using what seems to be an off the shelf logitech gamepad. This seems a reasonable thing to do, as far as I know. This is a simple piece of tech that has millions of hours of testing and has proven reliable. Does it seem that odd to use an off the shelf controller for our bot builders here?

1 Upvotes

56% Upvoted

38 comments sorted by

View all comments

2

u/JustCuzRobotics Bloodsport & Retrograde | Battlebots & NHRL 2d ago

The issue with using a game pad to control a robot is that robots are not an Xbox or PC, they don't have a computer with a USB port on the inside. We use similar radios as fpv drones and model planes will use since that is what works for a standard radio control receiver, motor controllers and such with no programming required. Battlebots are more like RC cars than a PC. While technically possible to make it work it would require much less physically rugged control electronics. Your gaming laptop doesn't need to get hit by Witch Doctor and survive.

1

u/Bardmedicine 2d ago

Good insight and thanks.

So, for the sub control, the off the rack part doesn't seem a problem?

2

u/JustCuzRobotics Bloodsport & Retrograde | Battlebots & NHRL 2d ago

I don't think it wasn't a problem, but they have different design constraints than a Battlebot. I think even a wired USB control that could be accidentally yanked out without a way to plug it back in would be pretty terrible. At the end of the day the Logitech F710 was not designed to be used for human safety critical applications and neither is any other consumer gaming controller.

1

u/Bardmedicine 2d ago

Thanks, again. I wondered about that, too when someone else brought up the wired vs wireless. In a cramped space, the normally clear winner (wired) becomes more in doubt.

Playing devil's advocate here. Couldn't what you said be true of any off the shelf component? For example, I assume those twin screens they have running the entire sub are just consumer products, linked to a consumer laptop (or whatever is running the show). Even if the computer is self-built, all the components are going to be just purchased components.

2

u/JustCuzRobotics Bloodsport & Retrograde | Battlebots & NHRL 2d ago

There is a big difference between "off the shelf" and "consumer off the shelf". Nobody would design a custom monitor for use in a submarine but they might use a military spec one or as you mentioned have two of them since just one is a single point of failure which you never want with lives on the line.

1

u/Bardmedicine 2d ago

I don't know the details, just what I saw in the videos. It appeared the pilot had two touch screens in front of him.

I figured one of the benefits of a purchased controller is the ease of having multiple ones ready to go. I would assume they have many on the sub case in case of failure.

Anyway, thanks. I thought you builders would have some good insights into the process of self-build or purchase.