manipulator

Manipulator refers to a person who exercises influence over others or to a device that handles, moves, or operates objects. In engineering, a manipulator is a mechanical system consisting of links connected by joints, actuated to position and orient an end effector such as a gripper, weld head, or soldering tool. Manipulators are designed to reach three-dimensional positions and may use serial, parallel, or hybrid configurations. They rely on sensors and control algorithms to achieve precise motion, and they may include safety and force feedback features.

Applications span manufacturing, automation, and material handling, as well as specialized fields such as underwater exploration, space robotics, and surgical robotics. Surgical manipulators are purpose-built to enable minimally invasive procedures, providing enhanced precision and remote control.

In human terms, a manipulator is someone who influences others to achieve their ends, sometimes through deceptive or coercive means. This sense is distinct from the mechanical one, but both share the core idea of directing the behavior of objects or people.

Design considerations for manipulators include degrees of freedom, payload, speed, precision, reach, control topology, and human-robot interaction. As technology advances, manipulators increasingly work alongside humans, performing tasks that are dangerous, repetitive, or require high accuracy.