When it comes to the medical applications of robots, Dr. Li believes that the automation process will be similar to the development of human apprentices with the development route going from "assistant", to "collaborator," and on to "independence". Initially, the robot will assist doctors to complete basic surgical operations; in the collaboration phase, the human and robot will work together to complete complicated operations, with the doctors mainly taking the role of decision making. Ultimately, robots will independently execute the surgery. Throughout the process, the robot will learn from the surgeons' experience and decision-making guidelines, accurately identify the key clinical goals and implement the corresponding programs. This will be the breakthrough that results in the future in autonomous surgery.

Minimally Invasive Robotics: High Growth Potential


According to BCG Boston Consulting, as of January 2016, the global medical robot industry achieved annual revenue of $7.47 billion, and is expected to grow at a steady compound annual rate of 15.4% over the next five years, given that global medical robot sales are expected to reach $11.4 billion by 2020. With the increasing demand for complex operations and the upgrade of medical infrastructure, more and more hospitals are open for surgical robots. According to Morgan's recent study, American surgeons believe that the use of surgical robots will increase by around 50% in the next 3 to 5 years, a huge market potential.

In view of the global market share of surgical robots, North America is currently the largest market for surgical robotics. With the upgrade of medical systems and increased awareness of minimally invasive surgery, the focus should gradually shift to the Asian market. Medical robotics are an important part of China's industry 4.0 strategy. In the outline of the 13th Five-Year Plan and subsequent guidance documents such as Made in China 2025, the State Council proposes a focus on the development of medical robots and other high-performance diagnostic and treatment equipment, and actively encourages innovation in domestic medical devices. National ministries and local governments have provided policy guidance on the establishment of medical robot testing and application platforms, and set up the standards in the robotics industry. Surgical robotics have become a focus of national development in the future.

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