Posted by Laurie Sullivan at 3/10/2011 1:00:00 PM

In robotics an end effector is the device at the end of a robotic arm designed to interact with the environment.

The end effector on the space shuttle’s robotic arm uses a pattern of wires which closes like the aperture of a camera around a handle or other grasping point.

In the Discovery Lab we learned about robotics in space, such as Robonaut and Canadarm. We watched video clips (see links below), read and discussed an article about the robotic arm on the Space Shuttle and International Space Station, and made end effector models to pick up bottles and other items around the room.

Links:

Find out when you can see the International Space Station fly over your home by clicking here and typing 22203 zip code

Video about the International Space Station from NASA Connect

Video of the NASA Edge Team meeting Robonaut. Listen for the part when the engineer talks about building with LEGO as a child.

Robotic arm video, including the activity Making an End Effector at the end of the video.