mechanical manipulator

A mechanical manipulator, in the context of robotics, is a reprogrammable, multifunctional device designed to move materials, parts, tools, or specialized devices through programmed motions to perform various tasks. The technology of robotics involves the design of these manipulators, which are constructed from a series of linked joints. These joints, either linear (translational) or rotary, allow for relative motion between the rigid links.1

The manipulator typically consists of an arm-and-body section for positioning and a wrist section for orienting tools or parts. The arm-and-body can have various configurations, each offering a different work envelope. Industrial robots, which utilize these manipulators, emerged around 1960, combining technologies from numerical control and teleoperators. The first industrial robot was installed in 1961.12