Robot surgeons compete with humans aboard the vomit comet

We were always of the opinion that robot surgery was edgy enough as it is, but you know how those science peoples always have to kick things up a notch. SRI International and the University of Cincinnati hitched a ride on NASA's DC-9 "vomit comet" to pit human surgeons against semi-autonomous robots in suturing and incision tasks on simulated tissue -- while experiencing periods of zero gravity and 1.8g acceleration. Surprisingly, the robots kept pace just fine until SRI's fancy compensation software was switched off, which we're guessing is exactly the point SRI was trying to prove. Right now SRI is building a robotic operating room for the battlefield called Trauma Pod, which is mostly autonomous, and they're also working on a fully autonomous system for NASA that could treat an astronaut on Mars, where the 20 minute delay would make telesurgery not an option. Field testing for the trauma pod should begin in 2009.

[Via Slashdot]

[Alex @ Nov 7th 2007 10:27AM]

i'd like to take a ride on the vomit comet

[Warren @ Nov 7th 2007 10:38AM]

Looks like the guy right behind the display is enjoying his ride on the 'vomit comet'

[Matt Smith @ Nov 7th 2007 11:04AM]

It is a pretty amazing ride... here I am getting spun in near zero-g...
http://picasaweb.google.com/matthew.stanley.smith/NASAWeightlessWonderAKAVomitComet/photo#5111373220243604402

I can't imagine doing surgery in zero-g conditions... pretty crazy stuff!

[macona @ Nov 7th 2007 1:18PM]

"Open the pod bay doors HAL"

[Dave @ Nov 7th 2007 1:37PM]

There's a scene in RAMA II where an appendectomy on the mission commander using a robot surgeon is botched during an unexpected course correction and he dies.

[ethana2 @ Nov 7th 2007 1:30PM]

I'm sorry, macona. You're not Dave.

[scolen2 @ Nov 7th 2007 1:41PM]

my worst nightmare come true!