Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur, India’s premier engineering institution, has forged a strategic research partnership with the Intuitive Foundation the non-profit arm of Intuitive Surgical, pioneers in robotic-assisted minimally invasive care to propel the future of AI in surgery. The collaboration has culminated in the inauguration of MANAS (Multi-modal AI in Navigation & Automation for Surgical Robotics), a dedicated program designed to revolutionize robotic-assisted procedures through intelligent digital modeling.

At its core, the initiative seeks to construct comprehensive digital footprints of surgical pathways, integrating pre-operative diagnostics, planned scenarios, intra-operative contexts, and post-operative recovery data. Researchers will meticulously map decision-making processes and identify highly repeatable tasks across procedures, paving the way for AI-driven tools that offer real-time safety guidance, flag potential deviations, trace complication sources, and support selective automation.

A key enabler is the da Vinci Research Kit (dVRK), a specialized non-clinical platform repurposed from retired da Vinci systems. This allows controlled lab-based testing with phantoms, synthetic tissues, and anatomical models ensuring no human patient involvement while bridging digital models to physical robotic actions.

The program draws real-world insights from documented surgeries, particularly cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal), through IIT Kharagpur’s longstanding tie-up with Nil Ratan Sircar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. This multidisciplinary effort unites engineers, clinicians, and technology specialists to standardize surgical decision-making, minimize variability in outcomes, and empower surgeons to prioritize complex judgments over routine steps.

As robotic-assisted surgery gains traction globally for its precision and reduced invasiveness, this research addresses critical needs for consistency and safety in an era of growing procedural complexity. By fostering responsible automation and AI orchestration, MANAS could accelerate innovations that make high-quality care more predictable and accessible worldwide.

The partnership exemplifies India’s rising contributions to global surgical informatics and robotics, highlighting collaborative ecosystems that translate cutting-edge ideas into tangible advancements.