Humanoid robots successfully perform live surgeries in a world first, paving the way for accessible surgical care
Researchers at the University of California San Diego have used teleoperated humanoid robots to perform live surgery for the first time, publishing their findings in the journal Nature.The preclinical trial demonstrated two successful procedures on large non-primate mammals.
Robotics innovation
In the first procedure, a humanoid robot completed a gallbladder removal with a human surgeon assisting.
In the second procedure, two humanoid robots operated together without human assistance at the table.
Both surgeries were teleoperated, meaning surgeons controlled the robots remotely.
The humanoid robots, known as “Surgie,” stand 5 feet tall and weigh 60 pounds.
This design contrasts with robotic systems that can weigh around 1,800 pounds and need modified operating rooms.
The research team comprises engineers and surgeons at UC San Diego, advocating for the robots’ portability to improve surgical care in remote areas.
Michael Yip, a faculty member in the UC San Diego Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, highlighted the potential for these robots to expand surgical access.
Challenges remain as the study acknowledged several limitations.
This Unitree G1 performed surgery with teleoperation.
First successful surgery with a humanoid.
A surgeon steered it from a console the whole time.
It used real surgical tools, not custom robotic ones.
The G1 completed two live gallbladder removals on pigs.
The work just… pic.twitter.com/7MW4mGzVud
— clankr (@clankrmedia) July 8, 2026
The robots needed recalibration during procedures, lengthening surgery time compared to established systems.
Latency between surgeon movements and robot response also poses a challenge.
Shanglei Liu, an assistant professor of surgery at UC San Diego School of Medicine, compared these issues to early robotic systems.
Looking beyond surgery, researchers foresee humanoid robots assisting in operating rooms with tasks like fetching tools.
The team aims for integrated teams of humanoid robots and humans in operating theatres, addressing staffing shortages.
“It’s cost-effective and requires less space in operating rooms,” Liu stated, noting potential applications in rural areas, battlefields, and even space.
