World's First Surgery by Teleoperated Humanoid Robots: Surgie Preclinical Trial Details

On July 8, 2026, researchers at UC San Diego reported in the journal Nature the first successful use of teleoperated humanoid robots to perform live surgery in a preclinical trial — a landmark proof of concept for introducing humanoid robots into the operating room .

The two procedures

Both surgeries were performed on large non-primate mammals .

• Human-robot team: A single teleoperated humanoid robot, nicknamed "Surgie," worked alongside a human surgeon acting as an assistant to perform a laparoscopic gallbladder removal .
• Robot-robot team: Two Surgie humanoid robots worked side by side with no human surgeon at the table, performing the same type of procedure together .

Surgie vs. traditional robotic surgery systems

The robots used in the study, nicknamed Surgie, are based on a commercial humanoid platform . Researchers built adapters so the robots could hold traditional surgical instruments . Here is how Surgie compares to traditional systems:

Feature	Surgie (humanoid robot)	Traditional surgical robot
Height	~5 feet	Larger footprint
Weight	~60 pounds	~1,800 pounds
Mobility	Mobile, walkable, compact	Fixed and requires a larger setup
Cost	Described as costing "a fraction" of traditional systems	Much higher-cost systems
Tool handling	Holds standard laparoscopic tools via custom adapters	Uses specialized robotic surgery hardware
Control feel	Designed to be relatively natural and intuitive for teleoperation	Requires specialized robotic surgery training

Current limitations

• Recalibration needs: The robots had to be recalibrated several times during surgery, making the procedures longer than those performed with existing specialized surgical systems . The researchers compared this stage to the early days of robotic laparoscopy and said they expect performance to improve over time .
• Latency: There is a delay between when the surgeon moves the controller and when the robot responds . The team is working to reduce latency, particularly for longer-distance teleoperation to remote communities .

Researchers' vision

• Expanding surgical access: Michael Yip, a UC San Diego electrical engineering faculty member and senior author, said remotely operated humanoid robots could "amplify access to critical surgeries" in underserved regions, addressing surgeon shortages and healthcare disparities worldwide .
• Deployment in austere environments: Shanglei Liu, an assistant professor of surgery and senior author, cited potential for use in rural areas, battlefield medicine, and even space, given the robot's small size, lower cost, and ease of transport .
• Broader OR roles: Because Surgie can walk and perform many physical tasks a human can, researchers envision it fetching tools for surgeons and cleaning the operating room after a procedure — not just performing surgery .