The Humanoids Summit 2025, held at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, California, brought together over 2,000 attendees from more than 400 companies and 40 countries. The event underscored the rapid progress in humanoid robotics, particularly in the medical sector, where these robots are poised to transform patient care and surgical procedures.
Advancements in Surgical Robotics
One of the standout presentations was by KUKA Medical Robotics, which unveiled the LBR Med cobot. Designed for integration into medical devices, the LBR Med aims to enhance precision, safety, and efficiency in medical procedures. Axel Weber, Vice President of KUKA Medical Robotics, emphasized the robot’s role in transforming medical practices, aligning with the latest trends in robotics and healthcare. (roboticssummit.com)
Similarly, the University of California, San Diego, introduced LapSurgie, a humanoid robot capable of performing laparoscopic surgeries via teleoperation. This system leverages an inverse-mapping strategy for manual-wristed laparoscopic instruments, enabling precise hand-to-tool control without additional setup requirements. The real-time visual feedback provided by a stereo vision system further enhances the surgical process. (arxiv.org)
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Integration into Clinical Environments
The integration of humanoid robots into clinical settings was further explored by researchers at the University of California, San Diego. They developed a bimanual teleoperation system for the Unitree G1 Humanoid Robot, enabling it to perform diverse medical procedures, including physical examinations and emergency interventions. The system demonstrated the robot’s ability to replicate critical aspects of human medical assessments and interventions, highlighting its potential in hospital settings. (arxiv.org)
Collaborative Human-Robot Interaction
Enhancing human-robot collaboration, the Surena-V humanoid robot was showcased with an optimization-based control architecture. This design allows the robot to interact precisely with its environment, as demonstrated by its ability to control a medical needle’s movement through soft material. The robot’s stability and collaborative capabilities were highlighted through experiments illustrating its cooperation with humans in tasks like moving a bar, emphasizing its potential in medical applications. (arxiv.org)
AI Models Driving Robotics Innovation
The summit also highlighted the role of advanced AI models in driving robotics innovation. Google introduced two new AI models—Gemini Robotics and Gemini Robotics-ER—built on its Gemini 2.0 platform. These models are designed to support a wide range of robotic forms, including humanoids and industrial robots, by enabling advanced vision-language-action capabilities and spatial reasoning. This development may allow startups to accelerate product development and reduce costs. (reuters.com)
Global Investment and Future Outlook
The surge in investment in humanoid robotics was evident, with funding for humanoid-focused startups and R&D programs estimated to have exceeded $1.3 billion in the first half of 2025. Companies like Figure AI and Apptronik have secured substantial funding, indicating strong investor confidence in the sector’s potential. This financial backing is expected to accelerate the development and deployment of humanoid robots in various industries, including healthcare.
In conclusion, the Humanoids Summit 2025 highlighted the transformative potential of humanoid robots in the medical field. From enhancing surgical precision to improving patient care and addressing workforce challenges, these robots are set to revolutionize healthcare delivery. As technology continues to advance and investment grows, the integration of humanoid robots into medical settings is poised to become a cornerstone of modern healthcare.
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