A humanoid robot built in China has performed keyhole surgery in a United States laboratory, removing organs with a precision that surprised the scientists operating it.
Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, used the Chinese made robot to carry out minimally invasive procedures. The robot, named the Tiangong, is a full sized humanoid machine originally designed for general tasks, not surgery.
A humanoid robot trained for surgery in a lab
The team at Berkeley did not modify the robot's hardware. Instead, they trained it using imitation learning, a method where the robot watches and copies human movements. They showed the robot how to handle surgical tools and navigate small incisions. Over time, the robot learned to perform the steps of keyhole surgery on its own.
In tests, the Tiangong removed organs from a synthetic model of the human body. The robot used standard laparoscopic instruments, the same tools human surgeons use. It made small cuts and worked through them with steady, controlled motions. The researchers reported that the robot completed the procedures without errors.
Why this matters for patients and doctors
Keyhole surgery, also called laparoscopic surgery, is less invasive than open surgery. Patients recover faster and have smaller scars. But the technique requires surgeons to have steady hands and years of training. A robot that can perform these steps reliably could change how surgery is taught and delivered.
The scientists said the robot's success shows that humanoid machines can learn complex medical tasks. They believe this could lead to robots assisting in operating rooms or even working in places where human surgeons are not available. The research was published in a scientific journal and has drawn attention from medical device companies.
Local people in China have followed the news closely. The Tiangong robot was developed by a state owned company in Beijing. For many Chinese citizens, the robot's success abroad is a point of pride. It shows that Chinese technology can compete at the highest levels of global science and medicine.
The Berkeley team plans to test the robot on animal tissue next. They want to see if the robot can handle the unpredictability of living bodies. If those tests go well, human trials could follow. For now, the Tiangong has proven that a humanoid robot can learn to cut with care.
