For the first time ever, humanoid robots have successfully completed live surgical operations under remote control by surgeons at UC San Diego, signaling a transformative step for medical care accessibility.
- First live surgeries performed by teleoperated humanoid robots.
- Robots are compact and mobile, unlike bulky traditional surgical robots.
- Potential to ease surgeon shortages and improve access in remote locations.
What happened
Surgeons at UC San Diego handed control of surgical instruments to two humanoid robots, which successfully completed live surgeries for the first time in history. These operations included procedures like cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal) on large animals, demonstrating the robots’ ability to perform real surgical tasks beyond laboratory simulations.
Unlike traditional robotic surgery systems that rely on fixed, heavy robotic arms requiring significant space, the humanoid robots used here are much smaller, weighing only around 27 kg and standing about 1.5 meters tall. Controlled remotely by surgeons, these robots use adapted surgical tools to perform complex tasks with human-like dexterity.
Why it feels good
This breakthrough represents a hopeful future where a growing shortage of skilled surgeons won’t delay critical operations. Humanoid surgical robots can be deployed in diverse settings, from cramped rural clinics to battlefield field hospitals, bringing expert care to places where it’s scarce or unavailable today.
The technology promises to reduce costs and space needs for surgical robotics, making it more practical and widely accessible. While still early and facing challenges like latency and procedure duration, this progress builds on the success of early surgical robots and opens the door for humanoid assistants to become integral members of surgical teams.
What to enjoy or watch next
UC San Diego’s research team is continuing to refine these humanoid robots for surgery, aiming to perfect their responsiveness, reliability, and ease of deployment. Future roles could extend beyond operating, including fetching instruments, cleaning, and supporting staff in operating rooms or remote medical scenarios.
For those interested in a closer look, UC San Diego’s Advanced Robotics and Controls Lab has shared a video showcasing the project, revealing the robots in action during surgery. Watching this glimpse into the future of medicine offers an inspiring view of how technology and human expertise will collaborate to save lives.