Autonomy in Surgical Robotics

Bringing autonomy to surgical and endoscopic robots can reduce the skill required to perform complex procedures, improve consistency and widen access to high-quality care. We develop the perception and control methods that make this possible.

Using computer vision and machine learning, our systems interpret the live endoscopic view and steer toward a target while respecting the constraints of delicate anatomy. Autonomy is always shared: the robot handles moment-to-moment navigation, and the clinician can intervene at any time.

We leverage the generous donation of two Da Vinci® surgical robots from Intuitive Surgical, both equipped with daVinci Research Kits, to validate our research. One of our robots is strategically placed in the University of Leeds Anatomy Lab and benefits from access to soft-tissue human cadavers, making it a perfect setup to perform pre-clinical studies.