Learning Dynamic Spatial Relations: The Case of a Knowledge-based Endoscopic Camera Guidance Robot

Andreas Bihlmaier describes a novel method to model dynamic spatial relations by machine learning techniques. The method is applied to the task of representing the tacit knowledge of a trained camera assistant in minimally-invasive surgery. The model is then used for intraoperative control of a robot that autonomously positions the endoscope. Furthermore, a modular robotics platform is described, which forms the basis for this knowledge-based assistance system. Promising results from a complex phantom study are presented.

Andreas Bihlmaier is leader of the Cognitive Medical Technologies group in the Institute for Anthropomatics and Robotics – Intelligent Process Control and Robotics Lab (IAR-IPR) at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). His research focuses on cognitive surgical robotics for minimally-invasive surgery, as part of the SFB/Transregio 125 “Cognition-Guided Surgery”.