NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Technical Detail Remote Manipulator System Dexterous Manipulator Base System Arm Length 17.6 meters (57.7 feet) 3.5 meters (11.48 feet) linear stroke 5.7 meters x 4.5 meters x 2.9 meters (18.7 feet x 14.76 feet x 9.5 feet) Mass (approx.) 1,800 kilograms (3,968 pounds) 1,662 kilograms (3,664 pounds) 1,450 kilograms (3,196.7 pounds) Mass Handling/Transportation Capacity 116,000 kilograms (255,736 pounds) 600 kilograms (1,322.77 pounds) 20,900 kilograms (46,076.61 pounds) Degrees of Freedom 7 15 Fixed Peak Power (operational) 2,000 W 2,000 W 825 W Avg. Power (keep alive) 435 W 600 W 365 W Applied Tip Load Range 0-1,000 N 0-111 N N/A Stopping Distance (under max. load) 0.6 meters (1.96 feet) 0.15 meters (5.9 inches) N/A

Shuttle Robotic Arm vs. Station Robotic Arm

Detail Space Shuttle Robotic Manipulator System (Canadarm) International Space Station Mobile Servicing System (Canadarm 2) Mission Profile Returns to Earth after every shuttle mission. Permanently in space. Range of Motion Reach limited to length of arm. Moves end-over-end to reach many parts of International Space Station in an inchworm-like movement; limited only by number of Power Data Grapple Fixtures (PDGFs) on the station. PDGFs located around the station provide power, data and video to the arm through its Latching End Effectors (LEEs). The arm can also travel the entire length of the space station on the Mobile Base System. Fixed Joint Fixed to the shuttle by one end. No fixed end. Equipped with LEEs at each end to provide power, data and video signals to arm. Degrees of Freedom 6 degrees of freedom. Similar to a human arm: shoulder (2 joints), elbow (1 joint) and wrists (3 joints). 7 degrees of freedom. Much like a human arm: shoulder (3 joints), elbow (1 joint) and wrists (3 joints). However, Canadarm2 can change configuration without moving its hands. Joint Rotation Limited elbow rotation (limited to 160 degrees). Full joint rotation. Joints (7) rotate 540 degrees. Larger range of motion than a human arm. Senses No sense of touch. Force moment sensors provide a sense of touch. Automatic vision feature for capturing. Automatic collision avoidance. Length 15 meters (49.2 feet) 17.6 meters (57.7 feet) Weight 410.5 kilograms (905 pounds) 1,800 kilograms (3,968 pounds) Diameter (exterior diameter of composite boom) 33 centimeters (13 inches) 35 centimeters (13.8 inches) Mass Handling Capacity 29,484 kilograms (65,001 pounds) - design case handling payload. Upgraded to 266,000 kilograms (586,429 pounds) 116,000 kilograms (255,736 pounds) - design case handling payload. Speed of Operations Unloaded: 60 centimeters / second (1.97 feet / second) Loaded: 6 centimeters / second (2.36 inches / second) Unloaded: 37 centimeters / second (1.21 feet / second) Loaded: Station Assembly - 2 centimeters / second (.79 inches / second) EVA Support - 15 centimeters / second (5.9 inches / second) Orbiter - 1.2 centimeters / second (.47 inches / second) Composition 16 plies of high modulus carbon fiber—epoxy 19 plies of high strength carbon fiber—thermoplastic Repairs Repaired on Earth Designed to be repaired in space by replacing ORUs (Orbital Replacement Units). Built-in redundancy. Control Autonomous operation or astronaut control Autonomous operation or astronaut control Cameras 2 (one on the elbow and one on the wrist) 4 color cameras (one at each side of the elbow, the other two on the Latching End Effectors)