Humanoid robots show promise in surgery as hospital strain grows

A recent study by University of California San Diego researchers demonstrates the potential of humanoid surgical robots to alleviate physician burnout and reduce hospital wait times amid growing healthcare system strains. The team developed a bimanual teleoperation system for the Unitree G1 humanoid robot, equipped with Inspire Gen4 robotic hands, allowing a human operator to remotely control both arms for diverse medical tasks. Tested across seven procedures—including physical exams (such as auscultation and Leopold maneuvers), emergency interventions (like Bag Valve Mask ventilation and endotracheal intubation), and precision needle insertions—the robot showed promising ability to replicate key medical assessments and interventions. The system employs impedance control and a virtual spring-damper mechanism to ensure safe, precise, and coordinated bimanual movements, with operator inputs captured via foot pedals, HTC Vive trackers, and cameras. Despite these advances, challenges remain, notably limited force capacity for high-strength procedures and sensor sensitivity constraints affecting accuracy. The study highlights that current surgical robots tend