Talk:European Robotic Arm

Canadarm2 vs ERA

Can someone explain what the differences/similarities of the European Robotic Arm and Canadarm2. From reading the two articles they sound virtually identical. I think these articles need more discussion on the differences/similarities. Why is a second one needed? It says ERA is for the Russian module but is it limited to the Russian module? Is Canadarm2 limited to where it can go? -- Webgeer 17:00, 3 Nov 2004 (UTC)

Canadarm2 can indeed not go everywhere on the ISS. Because of differences between US and Russian technology (especially with regard to the interfaces on the outside of the ISS) Canadarm2 can't attach itself to the Russian segment of the ISS. Thus a separate robotic arm for the Russian segment is needed.

Also the ERA can do some things that the Canadarm2 can't do. For instance, the ERA can be controlled by a cosmonaut who is outside the space station (standing on a working platform that is attached to the ERA). -- 82.161.242.16 14:31, 5 Nov 2004 (UTC)

The "ability to 'walk' around the exterior of the station" is not a "unique feature" of this space robot, as the second and third sentences claim between them. Right? Actually, while I'm picking nits, I'm dubious about the use of the word "intelligent" in the first sentence, too. And as Webgeer says, the article is insufficiently clear about what the ERA can do that the Canadarm2 cannot; surely there's cool stuff to be talked about (aside from EVA-MMI). Anyway, please don't misuse the word "unique". -- 28 April 2005‎ JHolman

The article has been changed in reaction to the previous comments.

Here is also a list of differences between the Canadarm2 and the ERA. The list is by no means complete so any comments and contributions are welcome.

1) The Canadarm2 and the ERA use different grappling mechanisms to deal with the basepoints and grapple fixtures on payloads on their respective parts of the ISS.

2) The Canadarm2 must always operated by a human operator. The ERA can perform many tasks automatically (which is also the reason for the use of the word "intelligent" in the article), for instance by performing a sequence of moves (go there, take that payload and move it over there etc.) that have been composed on earth and sent to the ISS. The operator in the ISS only has to press a start button and check ERA's progress from time to time.

3) The Canadarm2 operator has to look at the arm through some kind of window or outside camera. The ERA has camera's of its own which can show images of the arm and its surroundings on the IVA-MMI inside the space station. These camera's can also be used for inspecting the ISS from the outside without the need for EVA.

4) The Canadarm2 has to rely on actions of its operator to grapple something. The ERA has sensors which measure torques and forces and can perform fully automatic grappling and releasing of payloads and basepoints.

5) The Canadarm2 can only be controlled from inside the ISS. The ERA can also be controlled (through the use of the EVA-MMI) by a kosmonaut outside the ISS.

- 24 June 2005‎ 82.161.242.16

Update needed

Needs an additional sections and Update for the following reasons:

1) New Configuration due to launch in 2009 on MLM

2) Installation of the Mission Preparation and Training Equipment (MPTE) at Star City and Korolev in February/March/April 2006.

3) Discussion of the robot operated airlock.

4) The black Stripe

5) SMF Software Maintenance Facility

6) The WET (Weightless Environment Test ) model (underwater at Star city tests and Euronews feature

7) Comparison to ESA Eurobot

8) Extracts of the FOM (Flight Operations Manual )would be nice

-- 17 January 2007‎ 192.171.1.126

FAKE image

I erased the image shown on top, because it gives a wrong idea of the robot in action, because it shows the arm attached to a fictional space station. In fact, you can even read the phrase "Computer model of the ERA at work on the ISS", thats not the ISS!!

--200.117.120.238 (talk) 01:22, 22 March 2008 (UTC)

Not fake, just heavily outdated. It shows how it would have worked on the long since cancelled Science Power Platform --TheDJ (talk • contribs) 09:38, 22 March 2008 (UTC)

Basepoints and grapple fixtures

Can someone provide a image of one of the basepoints (and/or grapple fixtures) on the ROS that will be used by the ERA, and possibly some description? 95.119.235.151 (talk) 22:53, 20 September 2011 (UTC)

And a list of diagram of where they all are would be helpful. (and can ERA use the PDGFs on Zarya and the US segment ?) - Rod57 (talk) 10:38, 8 July 2021 (UTC)

Info

(Page 319) http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20140008875.pdf --Craigboy (talk) 22:10, 14 October 2014 (UTC)

Looks good. "The European Robotic Arm: A High-Performance Mechanism Finally on its way to Space", p319-334 of the 554p PDF. Lots of images and detailed text. (maybe it was published somewhere by itself) - Seems to say that (in 2014) it was expected to be launched in 2015. - Rod57 (talk) 10:51, 8 July 2021 (UTC)

History of delays

Project Status has long gaps/delays 2005-2010, and 2010-2021. - Could expand into a history section explaining the delays and how the concept or purpose has changed. eg. Was the late launch in 2021, primarily due to it being planned to launch on the MLM in 2015, and then the launch of MLM/Nauka was postponed - and there was no other way to ship ERA to ISS, or are all the mounting points for ERA (or a required control station) on the MLM so there was no point in ERA being shipped earlier ? - Rod57 (talk) 12:17, 8 July 2021 (UTC)

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• Integration of Experimental airlock from Rassvet to Nauka Module post Nauka Docking.gif
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• Rendering including components attached post-docking.jpg

You can see the reasons for deletion at the file description pages linked above. —Community Tech bot (talk) 00:09, 17 July 2021 (UTC)

Radically Changed Article

I'm hoping everyone is fine with how much I've changed the article. I felt that I was a large mess, and need the information to be updated or corrected. The inclusion of a proper history section I hope will improve the article. James Denesuk (talk) 21:24, 29 July 2021 (UTC)

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• European Robotic Arm (ERA) during flat floor testing.jpg
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• Era-grapple.jpg (discussion)
• European Robotic Arm ERA flight model pillars.jpg (discussion)
• European Robotic Arm Test Fit.jpg (discussion)
• European Robotic Arm WET Model during testing.jpg (discussion)
• European Robotic Arm undergoing testing.png (discussion)
• Extra Vehicular Activity-Man Machine Interface for European Robotic Arm.jpg (discussion)
• Intra Vehicular Activity-Man Machine Interface for European Robotic Arm.png (discussion)
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