Humanoid robots perform surgery in first in vivo study

A team led by Zekai Liang and Michael Yip from UC San Diego, along with clinical collaborators, has published the first systematic evaluation of humanoid robots for surgical tasks in Nature (2026). The study developed a teleoperation framework that allows a humanoid robot to use off-the-shelf laparoscopic instruments without custom surgical attachments. The system was assessed through benchtop characterization of precision and force control, followed by dry-laboratory user studies involving surgeons from novice to expert levels. Finally, the robot performed laparoscopic procedures on live porcine models—the first in vivo validation of a humanoid for surgery.

The results showed that current humanoid robots can achieve basic surgical maneuvers like grasping, cutting, and suturing with reasonable accuracy, but lag behind purpose-built systems like the da Vinci in fine motor control and speed. Key limitations included joint backlash, limited force feedback, and the robot's larger footprint interfering with the surgical field. Nevertheless, the study demonstrates that general-purpose humanoid platforms, which are rapidly advancing in dexterity and autonomy, could eventually help alleviate surgical workforce shortages by performing routine tasks or assisting in remote telemedicine scenarios. The authors emphasize that further hardware improvements and task-specific learning are needed before clinical adoption.