UC San Diego Researchers Use Humanoid Robots for Remote-Controlled Surgeries

Researchers at the University of California, San Diego, have successfully completed a surgical trial using humanoid robots controlled remotely by human surgeons. The experiment involved two Unitree G1 robots, nicknamed Surgie, each about 1.5 meters tall and weighing approximately 27 kilograms. These robots were adapted to handle medical instruments designed for minimally invasive procedures.

During the trial, the robots performed surgical tasks such as tissue retraction, cutting, and gallbladder removal, all under the remote control of skilled surgeons. The main advantage highlighted by the researchers is the use of relatively inexpensive, existing robotic platforms costing under $20,000 each, which is significantly cheaper than traditional medical robotic systems.

This development aims to address the global shortage of surgeons and improve access to surgical care in remote areas, rural hospitals, battlefields, and other environments where full medical teams are difficult to deploy. However, the researchers caution that widespread adoption is still distant, as the robots required multiple recalibrations during procedures and surgeries took longer than usual.

In the near term, these humanoid robots are expected to serve primarily as surgical assistants, helping with tasks like instrument delivery, equipment preparation, and support within the operating room, rather than fully replacing human surgeons.