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[XiaNaphryz]

https://pilotonline.com/news/milita...cle_5c24eefc-8e70-5c4a-9d82-00d29e052b76.html

The U.S. Navy's most advanced submarines will soon be using Xbox controllers

By Brock Vergakis
The Virginian-Pilot
Sep 15, 2017 Updated 2 hrs ago

The Navy is beginning to use an Xbox 360 controller – like the ones you find at the mall – to operate the periscopes aboard Virginia-class submarines.

Unlike other types of submarines people are familiar with from Hollywood, Virginia-class submarines don’t have a traditional rotating tube periscope that only one person can look through at a time.

It’s been replaced with two photonics masts that rotate 360 degrees. They feature high-resolution cameras whose images are displayed on large monitors that everyone in the control room can see. There’s no barrel to peer through anymore; everything is controlled with a helicopter-style stick. But that stick isn’t so popular.

“The Navy got together and they asked a bunch of J.O.s and junior guys, ‘What can we do to make your life better?’ ” said Lt. j.g. Kyle Leonard, the USS John Warner’s assistant weapons officer, referring to junior officers and sailors. “And one of the things that came out is the controls for the scope. It’s kind of clunky in your hand; it’s real heavy.”

Lockheed Martin and Navy officials have been working to use commercial off-the-shelf technology to reduce costs and take advantage of the technological skills sailors grow up with. The integration of the video game console controller grew out of that effort.

The Xbox controller is no different than the ones a lot of crew members grew up playing with. Lockheed Martin says the sailors who tested the controller at its lab were intuitively able to figure out how to use it on their own within minutes, compared to hours of training required for the joystick.

The Xbox controller also is significantly cheaper. The company says the photonic mast handgrip and imaging control panel that cost about $38,000 can be replaced with an Xbox controller that typically costs less than $30.

“That joystick is by no means cheap, and it is only designed to fit on a Virginia-class submarine,” said Senior Chief Mark Eichenlaub, the John Warner’s assistant navigator. “I can go to any video game store and procure an Xbox controller anywhere in the world, so it makes a very easy replacement.”

The Navy says that the system has gone through extensive testing over the past two years and that the Xbox controller will be included as part of the integrated imaging system for Virginia-class subs beginning with the future USS Colorado, which is supposed to be commissioned by November.

The Xbox controller will be installed on other Virginia-class submarines, such as the Norfolk-based John Warner, through the normal modernization process, according to Brienne Lang, a spokeswoman for the Navy’s program executive office for submarines. The John Warner had a demonstration model aboard this past week as it transited from Naval Station Norfolk to Groton, Conn.

Eichenlaub said the Navy doesn’t plan on stopping innovation with the Xbox controller, either. The goal is to develop technology that young people already are comfortable with, such as working with electronic touch screens on iPads and in virtual environments.

“Ideally, what they want to see in 10 years down the road is, there’s basically a glass panel display with windows, and you can just pull a window of information, review that, push it off, bring in the next window,” he said.

“They want to bring in sailors with what they have at home on their personal laptop, their personal desktop, what they grew up with in a classroom.”

 

[Dee Dah Dave]

Mattrick's dream is realised!

 

[RiderKairuu]

That's cool. When I was living in Norfolk I would see Navy guys buy nothing but Xbox controllers at GameStop. Wonder if it was related lol.

 

[StarPhlox]

Hope they don't run out of AA batteries

 

[alr1ght]

That stick drift after a few months is going to be a bitch.

 

[Shiggy]

But the Xbox One controller is much more comfortable to use.

 

[FullMetaltech]

Hope they don't run out of AA batteries

Nuclear powered xbox controllers incoming. But thats very cost effective for them.

 

[XiaNaphryz]

Hope they don't run out of AA batteries

They'll likely use wired controllers, like in the photo.

 

[VeeP]

Not using the Elite controllers? C'mon fam, this is why China will win. They have paddles.

 

[N21]

America strong, I just hope the enemy isn't using mouse and keyboard for shooters.

Hope they don't run out of AA batteries

US army got that nuclear powered batteries on lock.

 

[Aters]

That's pretty cool.

 

[davepoobond]

The duke should have been used, im sure those are like 5 dollars each now

 

[sibarraz]

That's the most America thing that I have read in a long time

 

[Boke1879]

Playing video games is about to pay off for an entire generation.

 

[Lionheart1827]

That stick drift after a few months is going to be a bitch.

Haha, thats what I was thinking.

 

[molnizzle]

War has changed.

 

[Glix]

The Xbox controller also is significantly cheaper. The company says the photonic mast handgrip and imaging control panel that cost about $38,000 can be replaced with an Xbox controller that typically costs less than $30.

Fucking Lunacy!

 

[purseowner]

If Microsoft provided them with all this that would mean considering a hard boycott for me from here on out.

 

[Bony Manifesto]

That picture... It's like they're asking people to Photoshop stuff onto the screens.

 

[Larogue]

Hope they don't run out of AA batteries

They are not going to let a nuclear powered submarine run on "hack-able" WiFi signal.

 

[FeenixRising]

Using Xbox controllers isn't even new. Pretty sure the Army used them for a robotics program

 

[EvB]

Mattrick's dream is realised!

Perfect.

 

[Captain Zyrain]

I for one appreciate the cost savings.

Watch Xbox 360 controllers suddenly start costing $10K

 

[PuppetMaster]

Insert joke about xbox controlers and seamen here.

 

[kmag]

Nuclear powered xbox controllers incoming. But thats very cost effective for them.

There's literally a Windows for warships. When I worked for BAE, it was something to see the deck of a Type 45 destroyer booting up essentially XP (and occasionally blue screening but the least said about that the better)

 

[ThisIsMyDogKyle]

should be using PS4 or Switch controllers for gyro aiming tbh.

 

[Glix]

If Microsoft provided them with all this that would mean considering a hard boycott for me from here on out.

Wait, what? If MS gives the controllers to the military, you are hard boycotting all MS products including Windows? LMAO

You know that many american companies support the military in many ways, and MS has had a working relationship with the DOD for decades https://military.microsoft.com/about/microsoft-department-of-defense/
But THIS is what is going to push you over the edge into a full boycott? Giving them XBOX controllers?

Sorry, I'm over here laughing my ass off.

 

[jelly]

I suppose they wouldn't need too many 360 controllers and Xbox One could be used down the line. Goat controllers.

 

[AcademicSaucer]

Nuclear powered xbox controllers incoming. But thats very cost effective for them.

Thay sounds really safe

 

[Dinjoralo]

should be using PS4 or Switch controllers for gyro aiming tbh.

Problem being those are way more expensive.

 

[HStallion]

What? The Kinect not good enough for them?

 

[AmyS]

I remember the times when it was the other way around - Technology designed & used for military training was adapted for video games.

Back in '95:

EDGE #22 - July 1995.

 

[C4Lukins]

Not using the Elite controllers? C'mon fam, this is why China will win. They have paddles.

The problem with the Elite is if you drop it, all the pieces go flying everywhere, and then you have to run around the ship gathering them all up.

 

[TimeEffect]

I always knew controllers were superior to KBM.

 

[Lister]

Menawhile Chinese Subs will feature Mouse and Keyboard... guess we know who will win WWIII.

 

[STEaMkb]

nm

 

[Wallach]

Not even Elite controllers. So much for that military budget increase.

 

[see5harp]

Some markass busta is gonna try and argue WASD is better for movement.

 

[BouncyFrag]

The duke should have been used, im sure those are like 5 dollars each now

And are indestructible!!

 

[DanielJr82]

Sometimes the best solutions are the simplest ones!

 

[jesu]

Inverted controls or not?

 

[Blam]

I can see this being a good replacement and helping drop the budget on the US Navy considerably or letting this money go to other R&D.

 

[senj]

Not even Elite controllers. So much for that military budget increase.

They probably need the bumpers to not break every 3 months though

 

[spannicus]

Hopefully they are drift free

 

[CrichtonKicks]

I can see this being a good replacement and helping drop the budget on the US Navy considerably or letting this money go to other R&D.

Not really. This is only for Virginia Class subs. That's less than 20 subs (including those under construction). $38,0000x20 is less than one million dollars savings. That's not even loose change that gets lost in the couch cushions compared to the military budget.

 

[Bits N Pieces]

Mattrick's dream is realised!

Hahaha, too good

 

[Hilarion]

Should invest in XB1 controllers.

 

[Ninja Scooter]

Will navy sub communications now include people yelling at the moms and reggaeton music playing in the background?

 

[Dreams-Visions]

not even Elite controllers?

disgust.

 

[Ceallach]

Not really. This is only for Virginia Class subs. That's less than 20 subs (including those under construction). $38,0000x20 is less than one million dollars savings. That's not even loose change that gets lost in the couch cushions compared to the military budget.

But it's huge savings for each boat. Every ship in the fleet is cash strapped(remember most of those military budgets don't actually go to the actual military), and a 38k savings can't be undersold. If we could free up that much cash, there are gaskets, filters, even simple supplies like paint brushes I could procure that I have no way to rn due lack of funds.