Robots Might Allow For Space Surgery

An anonymous reader writes "Robots might allow for delicate surgeries in space, reports the Washington Post." From the article: "The tiny, wheeled robots, which are about 3 inches tall and as wide as a lipstick case, can be slipped into small incisions and computer-controlled by surgeons in different locations. Some robots are equipped with cameras and lights and can send back images to surgeons. Others have surgical tools attached that can be controlled remotely ... Officials hope that next spring, NASA will teach astronauts to use the robots so that surgeries could one day be performed in space. Delays in communication because of the distance to space would mean surgeons on earth would have tell astronauts what commands to give the robots"

Comments

Delays in communication

[Anonymous Coward]

"Delays in communication because of the distance to space would mean surgeons on earth would have tell astronauts what commands to give the robots"

Surely the delay in communication would also apply to the surgeons telling the astronauts what to do? Doesn't this just add further delay?

Delay?

[nacturation]

Delays in communication because of the distance to space would mean surgeons on earth would have tell astronauts what commands to give the robots

And issuing the command to a human who then has to issue the command to a robot will somehow introduce less delay than the surgeon issuing the command directly?

FTL surgery

[PirateDuck]

Delays in communication because of the distance to space would mean surgeons on earth would have tell astronauts what commands to give the robots

Because, you know, surgeon -> astronaut -> robot is much faster than surgeon -> robot.