Cedars-Sinai launches Center for Autonomous Robotic Surgery

Cedars-Sinai has launched the Center for Autonomous Robotic Surgery, a new initiative designed to bridge the gap between engineering development and clinical operating room needs. The center aims to develop the next generation of surgical robots capable of performing specific tasks autonomously while working alongside medical professionals.

The center will be co-directed by Andrew J. Hung, MD, a urologist and specialist in minimally invasive robotic surgery, and Michael C. Yip, PhD, who joins the institution from the University of California, San Diego. The partnership combines clinical expertise in AI-driven surgical performance with engineering proficiency in machine learning, advanced sensing, and autonomous control.

The initiative focuses on creating surgeon-driven autonomous systems intended to augment, rather than replace, a surgeon’s clinical judgment. By embedding clinical expertise directly into the engineering process, the center seeks to develop technologies that make surgery safer, more precise, and more accessible for complex conditions.