Canadarm2: How It Works

contributed by the Canadian Space Agency

contributed by the Canadian Space Agency the canadarm2 is now an invaluable part

the canadarm2 is now an invaluable part

the canadarm2 is now an invaluable part of the International Space Station hi

of the International Space Station hi

of the International Space Station hi I’m Rebecca Brayton and welcome to

I’m Rebecca Brayton and welcome to

I’m Rebecca Brayton and welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’ll be

watchmojo.com and today we’ll be

watchmojo.com and today we’ll be checking out the simulator astronauts

checking out the simulator astronauts

checking out the simulator astronauts used to train themselves to use this

used to train themselves to use this

used to train themselves to use this tool so as I understand it there’s two

tool so as I understand it there’s two

tool so as I understand it there’s two different Canada arms the Canada arm one

different Canada arms the Canada arm one

different Canada arms the Canada arm one and the Canada arm two what is the

and the Canada arm two what is the

and the Canada arm two what is the difference between each of these one

difference between each of these one

difference between each of these one when it’s built more in the 80s the

when it’s built more in the 80s the

when it’s built more in the 80s the other one was sent up there in 2001 main

other one was sent up there in 2001 main

other one was sent up there in 2001 main differences the shuttle arm the one on

differences the shuttle arm the one on

differences the shuttle arm the one on the Space Shuttle comes back to Earth

the Space Shuttle comes back to Earth

the Space Shuttle comes back to Earth after shuttle mission where’s the Canada

after shuttle mission where’s the Canada

after shuttle mission where’s the Canada arm – on the space station is there

arm – on the space station is there

arm – on the space station is there permanently so every part has to be

permanently so every part has to be

permanently so every part has to be replaceable on orbit or in space

replaceable on orbit or in space

replaceable on orbit or in space what is the Canada arm – designed to do

what is the Canada arm – designed to do

what is the Canada arm – designed to do its main purpose is to build the space

its main purpose is to build the space

its main purpose is to build the space station so assemble something without it

station so assemble something without it

station so assemble something without it it wouldn’t be possible to build the

it wouldn’t be possible to build the

it wouldn’t be possible to build the space station how are the astronauts

space station how are the astronauts

space station how are the astronauts trained to use it every astronaut who

trained to use it every astronaut who

trained to use it every astronaut who uses the canadarm2 comes here for a

uses the canadarm2 comes here for a

uses the canadarm2 comes here for a two-week training session we do what we

two-week training session we do what we

two-week training session we do what we call unloaded so just moving the arm

call unloaded so just moving the arm

call unloaded so just moving the arm without anything on it and we also do

without anything on it and we also do

without anything on it and we also do loaded operations which is with a

loaded operations which is with a

loaded operations which is with a payload or a component of the space

payload or a component of the space

payload or a component of the space station this may sound like a simplistic

station this may sound like a simplistic

station this may sound like a simplistic question but how does it work it’s an

question but how does it work it’s an

question but how does it work it’s an arm with joints a little bit similar to

arm with joints a little bit similar to

arm with joints a little bit similar to I guess to our arm it has seven joints

I guess to our arm it has seven joints

I guess to our arm it has seven joints on it there are basically electric

on it there are basically electric

on it there are basically electric motors with gearboxes runs on about

motors with gearboxes runs on about

motors with gearboxes runs on about 1,200 watts of power the same power as a

1,200 watts of power the same power as a

1,200 watts of power the same power as a hair dryer and the largest thing it can

hair dryer and the largest thing it can

hair dryer and the largest thing it can move is the Space Shuttle what we have

move is the Space Shuttle what we have

move is the Space Shuttle what we have here is the interface they have on the

here is the interface they have on the

here is the interface they have on the space station that Julie Payette has

space station that Julie Payette has

space station that Julie Payette has used to control the arms we have ham

used to control the arms we have ham

used to control the arms we have ham reviews from the arm from the space

reviews from the arm from the space

reviews from the arm from the space station and from the space shuttle we

station and from the space shuttle we

station and from the space shuttle we have the two joysticks or hand

have the two joysticks or hand

have the two joysticks or hand controllers as we call them to control

controllers as we call them to control

controllers as we call them to control the arm and we have the laptop which is

the arm and we have the laptop which is

the arm and we have the laptop which is the principal interface we also have

the principal interface we also have

the principal interface we also have this panel here with green buttons to

this panel here with green buttons to

this panel here with green buttons to control some of the cameras and control

control some of the cameras and control

control some of the cameras and control some of the functions on the arm I’m

some of the functions on the arm I’m

some of the functions on the arm I’m going to go in with the end of the arm

going to go in with the end of the arm

going to go in with the end of the arm and go grab a specialized fixture so I’m

and go grab a specialized fixture so I’m

and go grab a specialized fixture so I’m going to start just putting in a command

going to start just putting in a command

going to start just putting in a command to move the arm and it’s going to move

to move the arm and it’s going to move

to move the arm and it’s going to move somewhat slowly it’s one of the

somewhat slowly it’s one of the

somewhat slowly it’s one of the important things that we teach yours

important things that we teach yours

important things that we teach yours is try to be smooth and your

is try to be smooth and your

is try to be smooth and your and essentially what we’re trying to do

and essentially what we’re trying to do

and essentially what we’re trying to do is keep the white dot within the white

is keep the white dot within the white

is keep the white dot within the white circle and the green crosshair is on the

circle and the green crosshair is on the

circle and the green crosshair is on the black sir and we want to get the tips of

black sir and we want to get the tips of

black sir and we want to get the tips of the white lines on each end here between

the white lines on each end here between

the white lines on each end here between the red lines what we’re going to do is

the red lines what we’re going to do is

the red lines what we’re going to do is pull the trigger down here and that’s

pull the trigger down here and that’s

pull the trigger down here and that’s going to start an auto sequence to

going to start an auto sequence to

going to start an auto sequence to capture the fixture it’s going to start

capture the fixture it’s going to start

capture the fixture it’s going to start drawing it in and we’re going to get a

drawing it in and we’re going to get a

drawing it in and we’re going to get a solid interface with the payload and

solid interface with the payload and

solid interface with the payload and then the capture is complete now the

then the capture is complete now the

then the capture is complete now the next step would be pulling it out what

next step would be pulling it out what

next step would be pulling it out what it’s doing here is at the end of the arm

it’s doing here is at the end of the arm

it’s doing here is at the end of the arm there’s three cables that are going

there’s three cables that are going

there’s three cables that are going around the shaft that comes out of the

around the shaft that comes out of the

around the shaft that comes out of the specialized fixture that lines us up and

specialized fixture that lines us up and

specialized fixture that lines us up and then there’s a mechanism that draws in

then there’s a mechanism that draws in

then there’s a mechanism that draws in the end and then make sure that we have

the end and then make sure that we have

the end and then make sure that we have a solid interface that’s how the arm

a solid interface that’s how the arm

a solid interface that’s how the arm moves objects it has to have a

moves objects it has to have a

moves objects it has to have a specialized fixture