Humanoid robots controlled by surgeons did world-first operation on live pigs

Surgeons remotely controlled humanoid robots to perform minimally invasive gallbladder removal surgeries on live pigs in a preclinical trial, marking the first time humanoid robots completed such procedures. This approach could eventually allow surgeons in remote areas and smaller clinics to perform robotic-assisted surgery without needing expensive specialized surgical systems, as humanoid robots are significantly cheaper and take up far less space than existing surgical robots. The experiment revealed current limitations, including the need for frequent pauses to recalibrate the robots, slower surgery times compared to established systems, and delays between operator movements and robot responses that may be problematic for future clinical use. The research team is exploring ways to improve teleoperated humanoid robot systems and develop autonomous surgical assistants that could work alongside human surgeons.