Canadarm — The ISS Robotic Arm | R2BOT
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Canadarm and Canadarm2 are the most famous space manipulators. Used on the Shuttle and now the ISS for satellite capture, EVAs, and station assembly.
The space robotics concept: Canadarm and Canadarm2 are the most famous space
Canadarm (1981–2011) and Canadarm2 (2001-present) are the iconic Canadian-built robotic arms used on the Space Shuttle and the International Space Station. They have captured satellites, moved astronauts during spacewalks, and helped assemble the ISS module by module.
💡 Think of it like…
Think of it like a household object that does the same job — the underlying idea is the same, just adapted for robots.
Why it matters
Without canadarm — the iss robotic arm | r2bot, many space robotics systems in robotics simply couldn't work.
Canadarm — The ISS Robotic Arm
What is Canadarm — The ISS Robotic Arm?
Canadarm (1981–2011) and Canadarm2 (2001-present) are the iconic Canadian-built robotic arms used on the Space Shuttle and the International Space Station. They have captured satellites, moved astronauts during spacewalks, and helped assemble the ISS module by module.
How It Works
Canadarm2 is a 7-DOF, 17-metre-long robotic arm with grappling fixtures at both ends — it can 'walk' along the ISS by attaching one end and releasing the other. Each joint uses redundant motors and brakes. The arm is controlled by astronauts inside the ISS via a robotic workstation. Force feedback assists fine docking. Coming next: Canadarm3 (smaller, AI-assisted) for the Lunar Gateway station.
Real-World Example
Canadarm2 has captured visiting Dragon, Cygnus, and HTV resupply ships hundreds of times. It supported the Hubble Space Telescope servicing missions. It is one of the most famous robots in history, with a Canadian $5 banknote featuring it.
Why It Matters for Robotics
Space manipulators are an entire discipline of robotics: zero-gravity dynamics, radiation-hardened electronics, high-reliability design. Canadarm is the canonical case study — every space-robotics course covers it. India's planned space station will need a similar manipulator.
Try It Yourself
Watch the NASA video 'Capturing the SpaceX Dragon with Canadarm2' on YouTube. Then read the Wikipedia 'Mobile Servicing System' page for the engineering details. Bookmark the Canadarm3 NASA Artemis page for the future.
Quick Quiz
Quick Quiz
3 questions
1.Canadarm2 is built by:
2.Canadarm2 has how many degrees of freedom?
3.A unique feature of Canadarm2 is:
Further Reading
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Last updated · 2026-05-21
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