IROS 2026 ELSR Workshop

2nd International Workshop on the Evolving Landscape of Surgical Robotics (ELSR 2026):

Surgical Autonomy for Today and Tomorrow

1st October, International Conference on Intelligent Robots & Systems (IROS), Pittsburgh, United States

This event will be live streamed.

Live streamed link will be shared soon.

Abstract

Topics of Interest

Speakers and Panelists

Call for Paper

Rising Stars in Surgical Robotics – Call for Applications

Call for Panel Discussion Questions

Organizers

Student Organizers and Contact

Abstract

Robotic surgery is entering an exciting new era where robots are no longer simply mechanical tools under the direct control of a surgeon, but rather fully-fledged cyber-physical systems capable of collaborating with doctors to carry out complex procedures. Within this evolving landscape, advances in AI technologies, together with the emergence of new robotic embodiments and platforms, are transforming the field while raising many open research questions. This workshop aims to bring together researchers from academia, industry, and the clinical community to discuss the opportunities and challenges introduced by these developments.

The workshop will focus on how two emerging themes are jointly shaping the future of surgical robotics: (1) the integration of advanced AI technologies, such as vision-language models (VLMs) and vision-language-action (VLA) models, to enhance perception, reasoning, and decision-making in robotic surgery; and (2) the emergence of new robotic embodiments and platforms, including humanoid and other unconventional robotic systems, which offer new forms of dexterity and interaction. Together, these developments raise new opportunities and questions about how intelligent robotic systems should be designed, embodied, and deployed. The workshop will feature invited talks, panel discussions, a rising star session, and poster sessions. Key insights and discussions from the workshop will be summarized in a white pape, which will be released on arXiv and submitted to a reputable journal for publication.

Topics of Interest

Interested topics include but are not limited to:

Theme 1: Surgical Intelligence

Foundation Models / VLM / MLLM
Surgical Agents
Safe and Trustworthy AI
Emerging Modalities
Generative Models
Data Curation

Theme 2: Surgical Automation

Robot Learning / VLAs
World Models
Multimodality
Simulation
Manipulation

Theme 3: OR of the Future

New Platforms / Instruments / Imaging Capabilities
Teleoperation
Real-time / Latency / Digital Infrastructure
Human-in-the-Loop
System Integration

Speakers and Panelists

Axel Krieger,

Associate Professor,
Johns Hopkins University

Ken Goldberg,
William S. Floyd Jr. Distinguished Chair of Engineering,
UC Berkeley

Lueder Alexander Kahrs,
Assistant Professor,
University of Toronto

Hongliang Ren,
Professor,
The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Michael Yip,
Associate Professor,
UC San Diego

Baoru Huang,
Assistant Professor,
University of Liverpool

Allison Okamura,
Richard W. Weiland Professor,
Stanford University

Mathias Unbearth,

Associate Professor,
Johns Hopkins University

Sabino Zani, MD
Associate Professor,
Duke University

Alan Kuntz,
Assistant Professor,
Vanderbilt

Patrick Codd, MD
Associate Professor,
Duke University

Ji Woong Kim,
Postdoctoral Researcher,
Stanford University

Call for Paper

Submission Site: OpenReview

Submission Deadline: 17 August, 2026

Paper Format:

· Maximum of 3 pages (text, figures, tables, acknowledgment, and references).

· Papers should be submitted in PDF and follow the IROS format.

· Authors may submit their preliminary and unpublished results or a summary of their recently published or accepted work for wider dissemination.

📢 Presentation & Awards

All authors of accepted papers will present their work in a dedicated poster session.

🏆 Best Paper: $300 USD 🏆 Best Poster: $200 USD

Rising Stars in Surgical Robotics – Call for Applications

Showcase your research at our upcoming workshop! Two selected candidates will be invited to present a 15-minute talk on their work. All senior PhD students and postdocs are welcome to apply!

📢 Sponsored Opportunity

We are pleased to announce that the registration fee for the two selected Rising Stars will be fully reimbursed, generously sponsored by Intuitive Surgical.

Submission Site: OpenReview* (same portal as for paper submissions)

*Rising star applications do not necessarily require keywords and abstracts. Please fill in 'N/A' as a placeholder in the above sections.

Submission Deadline: 17 August, 2026

Application Materials:

An academic CV
One representative publication or writing sample
Research statement (maximum 3 pages)

Don't miss this opportunity to share your ideas and connect with leaders in the field!

Call for Panel Discussion Questions

We want to hear from you! If you have any specific questions you would like addressed by our panelists, please share them with us via this form: Panel Discussion Questionnaire