Robotic surgery has become a familiar part of modern health care, but the machines used in operating theaters are usually purpose-built systems designed for a narrow set of tasks. Despite rapid advances in recent years, humanoid robots have largely remained out of the surgical environment. That has started to change now. A team of engineers and surgeons at the University of California San Diego have demonstrated that teleoperated humanoid robots can successfully perform minimally invasive surgeries during preclinical trials. According to the study published in Nature on July 8, 2026, titled “In Vivo Feasibility Study of Humanoid Robots in Surgery”, this is the first time that humanoid robots have performed such procedures on living subjects and offers an early glimpse of what the operating rooms of the future could look like if these systems continue to mature.
meet sergi : Humanoid robot built for operating rooms of hospitals
Most robotic surgery platforms found in hospitals today are large, specialized machines built specifically for procedures such as laparoscopic operations. They provide surgeons with highly precise control, but they are expensive, take up considerable space and require dedicated infrastructure.According to the University of California San Diego, the project took a different path. Instead of adopting a traditional surgical robot, the team developed a teleoperation framework around a general-purpose humanoid robot. Measuring about five feet long and weighing about 60 pounds, the robot was designed to work with standard laparoscopic instruments rather than custom-built surgical hardware.The researchers nicknamed the system “Sergi”. During testing, surgeons controlled the robots remotely through a teleoperation interface, enabling the machines to mimic human movements and perform delicate surgical procedures.The authors described this work as an evaluation of whether current humanoid technology can meet the precision, control, and safety demands associated with minimally invasive surgery.
Humanoid Robot Completes Live Gallbladder Removal Surgery
Preclinical trials involved two separate gallbladder removal operations performed on large non-primate mammals. In one procedure, a humanoid robot teamed up with a human surgeon to form a human-robot surgical team. In the second operation, two teleoperated humanoid robots worked together, each handling laparoscopic instruments while performing the surgery.Both procedures were completed successfully. This achievement is significant because it takes humanoid robots beyond laboratory demonstrations and simulated surgical exercises. According to the study, the project included extensive testing that ranged from controlled bench experiments and dry-lab evaluations to live surgical procedures, allowing researchers to assess technical performance in increasingly realistic conditions.Rather than focusing solely on whether robots can complete individual tasks, the team tried to measure how close current humanoid systems come to the standards expected in real surgical environments.
How humanoid robots could expand access to surgery around the world
The inspiration behind the project extends beyond robotics research. Healthcare systems in many countries are facing a shortage of trained surgical staff while the demand for treatments continues to increase. This imbalance can lead to delays, reduced access to specialist care and increased disparities between urban medical centers and remote communities.Teleoperated and eventually autonomous humanoid systems could help expand access to surgical care in places where specialists are difficult to recruit, said Michael Yip, a professor in UC San Diego’s department of electrical and computer engineering and one of the study’s senior authors.“Remotely operated and autonomous humanoid robots have real potential to expand access to critical surgeries that patients might not otherwise have access to,” Yip said. “This could help address the health care crisis not only in the United States, but around the world.”Unlike large robotic surgery platforms, which often require specially configured operating theaters, humanoid robots can move through spaces designed for people. Researchers believe this flexibility could make them easier to deploy in small hospitals, temporary medical facilities, and emergency response settings.
Humanoid robots integrate seamlessly into existing operating rooms
An unexpected result of the trials was how naturally humanoid robots integrated into a standard surgical workbench.While adapters had to be developed so that the robots could hold conventional instruments, the machines were able to operate in existing operating-room environments without the extensive modifications typically associated with dedicated robotic systems.Nikita Thareja, a general surgery resident at UC San Diego School of Medicine and study co-author, said the team was surprised by how effectively the robots adapted to existing workflows.Researchers argue that this compatibility could become one of the technology’s strongest advantages. Instead of redesigning hospitals around robotic platforms, hospitals could potentially introduce humanoid assistants into pre-existing environments.
Can humanoid robots match the accuracy of surgical robots?
A central question surrounding humanoid surgery has been whether a general-purpose robot can achieve the level of precision required for delicate procedures.According to Shanglei Liu, assistant professor of surgery at UC San Diego and one of the senior authors, the teleoperated system demonstrated surgical accuracy comparable to that achieved through established robotic surgery platforms.Yet the technology remains far from routine use. The procedures take significantly longer than surgeries performed using mature robotic systems because the robot requires multiple re-calibrations during operation. There were also technical challenges associated with latency, the delay between the surgeon’s actions and the robot’s response, especially when considering long-distance teleoperation in the future.According to the study, these limitations are important areas for improvement. While current humanoid platforms have demonstrated feasibility, the authors emphasize that further advances in control systems, reliability, and safety will be needed before any clinical deployment is realistic.
Humanoid robots can play many roles in hospitals
The UC San Diego team doesn’t necessarily envision humanoid robots that would serve solely as robotic surgeons.Because the machines have mobility and can interact with human-designed environments, researchers see them performing a wide range of duties inside hospitals. A humanoid assistant can transport equipment, retrieve instruments, prepare the workplace or help manage operating-room logistics before and after procedures. According to Yip, a long-term objective is the development of an autonomous surgical assistant capable of supporting health care teams where staffing shortages limit access to treatment.The vision is not of robots replacing medical professionals but of integrated teams in which human physicians and robotic systems share responsibilities according to their strengths.