UC San Diego researchers debut humanoid surgical robots on live pigs

Engineers and surgeons at the University of California, San Diego successfully used remote‑controlled humanoid robots to perform laparoscopic gallbladder removal on anesthetized pigs. In one trial a single robot operated alongside a human surgeon, and in another two robots worked together as a team. All procedures were completed with only minor, quickly resolved complications.

The study, published in *Nature*, shows that humanoid‑shaped robots can execute precise tasks inside existing operating rooms and may eventually enable tele‑surgery on remote communities, hazardous sites, or even space stations. Researchers note remaining challenges such as signal latency, the need for recalibration, and limits to movement precision before the technology can replace human surgeons.