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Published on: February 7, 2025
In vivo feasibility study of humanoid robots in surgery
Zekai Liang1, Nikita Thareja2, Peihan Zhang3
1Jacobs School of Engineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA. z9liang@ucsd.edu.
Nature
|July 8, 2026
Summary
Humanoid robots show promise for surgery, but current systems require further development for clinical readiness. This study systematically evaluated humanoid technology for laparoscopic tasks, identifying key challenges for future deployment.
Area of Science:
- Robotics
- Surgical Technology
- Humanoid Robots
Background:
- Healthcare faces staffing shortages, increasing demand for care.
- Hospital work requires embodied tasks: mobility, manipulation, and safe interaction.
- Humanoid robots offer potential for surgical assistance, but their readiness is unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically evaluate contemporary humanoid robot technology for laparoscopic surgical tasks.
- To assess the precision, control, and safety of humanoid systems compared to established surgical platforms.
- To identify technical feasibility, task performance, and clinical readiness of humanoid robots for surgery.
Main Methods:
- Developed a humanoid-based laparoscopic teleoperation framework using general-purpose instruments.
- Conducted benchtop characterization and dry-laboratory user studies with varying surgical experience.
- Performed in vivo porcine studies to assess performance in a realistic setting.
Main Results:
- Quantified technical feasibility, task performance, and clinical readiness of humanoid systems.
- Compared humanoid robot performance against established surgical platforms.
- Identified specific abilities and limitations of current humanoid technology for surgical applications.
Conclusions:
- Current humanoid robots show promise for laparoscopic surgery but require further technical advancements for clinical deployment.
- The study provides an evidence-based assessment of humanoid capabilities and limitations in surgical contexts.
- Key technical challenges must be addressed before widespread clinical adoption of humanoid robots in surgery.
