Evolution of Surgical Robot Systems Enhanced by Artificial Intelligence: A Review

Abstract

Surgical robot systems (SRS) represent an innovative cross-disciplinary research field using robotic technology to assist surgeons in operations. Current bottlenecks in SRS, such as the limited ability to process complex information and make surgical decisions, have not been effectively solved. Artificial intelligence (AI) is a valuable technique for simulating and extending human intelligence. AI offers a new direction and impetus for SRS by enhancing performance in areas such as perception, navigation, surgical planning, and control strategies. This review introduces the developmental history of AI-aided SRS, summarizes the basic SRS architecture, and analyzes how AI can improve SRS performance. Classical cases of AI-aided SRS, the impact of evidence in clinical settings, and associated ethical and legal considerations are explored. Finally, the challenges in AI-aided SRS are discussed, including algorithm development, surgical data science, human–robot coordination, and trust building between humans and robots.