Teleoperated medical robotic systems allow procedures such as surgeries, treatments, and diagnoses to be conducted across short or long distances while utilizing wired and/or wireless communication networks. This study presents a systematic review of the relevant literature between the years 2004 and 2015, focusing on medical teleoperated robotic systems which have witnessed tremendous growth over the examined period. A thorough insight of telerobotics systems discussing design concepts, enabling technologies (namely robotic manipulation, telecommunications, and vision systems), and potential applications in clinical practice is provided, while existing limitations and future trends are also highlighted. A representative paradigm of the short-distance case is the da Vinci Surgical System which is described in order to highlight relevant issues. The long-distance telerobotics concept is exemplified through a case study on diagnostic ultrasound scanning. Moreover, the present review provides a classification into short- and long-distance telerobotic systems, depending on the distance from which they are operated. Telerobotic systems are further categorized with respect to their application field. For the reviewed systems are also examined their engineering characteristics and the employed robotics technology. The current status of the field, its significance, the potential, as well as the challenges that lie ahead are thoroughly discussed.

Shape-control in an architectural context is expected to provide unique opportunities for buildings with enhanced functionality, flexibility, energy performance, and occupants comfort. An architectural concept is proposed which consists of a parallel arrangement of planar n-bar mechanisms formulating its skeleton structure and a membrane material stretched over it to define the building envelope. Overall shape changes involve coordinated motion of the individual planar mechanisms. Each linkage is equipped with one motion actuator as well as brakes installed on every joint. Reconfigurations of the building are based on the “effective 4-bar (E4B)” concept allowing stepwise adjustments. Each intermediate step involves the selective locking of (n − 4) joints on each closed-loop linkage effectively reducing it to a single degrees-of-freedom (DOF) 4-bar mechanism, the configuration of which can be adjusted using the available motion actuator. A reconfiguration of the mechanism can be realized through alternative control sequences and an optimal one can be selected based on specific criteria. The paper reports the fundamental design and control concepts. A simulation and an experimental study are presented to demonstrate the implementation of the general reconfiguration approach and examine relevant issues.

Medical robotics holds transformative potential for healthcare. Robots excel in tasks requiring precision, including surgery and minimally invasive interventions, and they can enhance diagnostics through improved automated imaging techniques. Despite the application potentials, the adoption of robotics still faces obstacles, such as high costs, technological limitations, regulatory issues, and concerns about patient safety and data security. This roadmap, authored by an international team of experts, critically assesses the state of medical robotics, highlighting existing challenges and emphasizing the need for novel research contributions to improve patient care and clinical outcomes. It explores advancements in machine learning, highlighting the importance of trustworthiness and interpretability in robotics, the development of soft robotics for surgical and rehabilitation applications, and the role of image-guided robotic systems in diagnostics and therapy. Mini, micro, and nano robotics for surgical interventions, as well as rehabilitation and assistive robots, are also discussed. Furthermore, the roadmap addresses service robots in healthcare, covering navigation, logistics, and telemedicine. For each of the topics addressed, current challenges and future directions to improve patient care through medical robotics are suggested.