Surgeons remotely controlled a Unitree G1 humanoid robot to perform two laparoscopic gallbladder removal surgeries on live pigs, marking the first use of a general-purpose humanoid robot for live surgery. The results were published in Nature. This demonstrates a low-cost alternative to specialized surgical robots like the da Vinci system, potentially expanding access to remote and resource-limited settings such as rural areas, battlefields, or space. It could democratize advanced surgical care. The Unitree G1 base model costs $13,500, and with dexterous hands it costs about $67,000, far less than the $500,000+ for dedicated surgical robots. The robot is 1.5m tall and weighs 27kg.
Background
Humanoid robots are designed to mimic human form and movement, but are rarely used in surgery. Traditional surgical robots like the da Vinci system are expensive and require dedicated hardware. This research shows that a low-cost, general-purpose humanoid robot can be adapted for precise surgical tasks via remote control.