Surgeons remotely controlled humanoid robots to remove gallbladders from live pigs in a preclinical trial published in Nature. The experiment marks the first such operations using teleoperated humanoid systems rather than specialized surgical machines.
The trial used a Unitree G1 robot, which stands five feet tall and weighs 60 pounds. Surgeons at the University of California San Diego operated the machines through a control console that included a stereo headset and foot pedal.
In one procedure a human surgeon assisted alongside the robot, while the second involved two teleoperated robots working together. The team built custom adapters and software to translate hand movements into precise tool control.
Researchers noted several limitations, including the need for frequent recalibration pauses and longer overall surgery times compared with existing systems. The robot’s 450-millimeter arm span also restricted reach during operations.
Shanglei Liu, an assistant professor of surgery at UC San Diego, said the approach offers a lower-cost option that could reach rural areas, battlefields, or even space. Michael Yip, a professor of electrical and computer engineering at the university, added that remotely operated and autonomous humanoid robots could expand access to critical surgeries worldwide.