Dictionary of Space Concepts

source of image:

Short definition:

A robot manipulator is a multi-segmented electronically controlled mechanism that performs tasks by interacting with its surroundings. They are also commonly known as robotic arms. They are widely used in the industry to assist workers to deal with radioactive or biological hazard materials, moving or lifting objects that are too heavy. 

Detailed Definition:

A manipulator is a tool used in robotics to move objects around without the operator having to touch them directly. They have been used in a variety of applications, including robotic surgery, welding automation, and space travel. It is an arm-like device made up of several sliding or jointed segments known as cross-slides that can grip and move items with a variety of degrees of freedom.

A manipulator is a lift-assist device used in industrial ergonomics to assist workers in lifting, moving, and placing objects that are too heavy, too hot, too big, or otherwise too challenging for one worker to handle manually.  A column boom manipulator is utilized in welding to improve deposition rates, decrease human error, and lower costs in a manufacturing environment.

Furthermore, manipulator tooling allows the lift assist to pitch, roll, or spin the part for proper placement. For example, removing a part from a horizontal press and pitching it up for vertical placement in a rack, or rolling a part over to expose the back of the part.

Sample sentence:

6-axis robotic manipulators are the most commonly seen in industry because their range of motion is similar to the human arm. 

Chinese:

机械手

French: 

Manipulatrice (feminine)
Manipulateur (masculine)

German:

Manipulator

Polish:

Manipulator

Swedish:

Manipulator

Links to Videos/Articles:

https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Figure-1-1-Standard-robot-manipulators-1_fig1_330599518