Ask the Experts

While the Canadarm is clearly an engineering marvel, it does not fit the strict definition of a robot. Technically speaking, a robot must be programmable (meaning it will repeat a commanded sequence autonomously) and it must be redeployable (meaning it can perform varied tasks by changing the end effector and the program). The Canadarm is redeployable in that it is used for many different functions, but it does not run a commanded motion program. It is not autonomous, but rather, is teleoperated by flight engineers on board the shuttle.