end effector

American  

[end i-fek-ter] / ˈɛnd ɪˈfɛk tər /

noun

1. a tool, such as a gripper, vacuum, or drill, affixed to the end of a robotic arm to enable the machine to fulfill a specific purpose.

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Etymology

Origin of end effector

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

But the trial was scrubbed because of problems with the arm's hand, known in NASAese as an "end effector."

From Time Magazine Archive