Ever wondered how surgeons prepare for complex operations? It turns out they take a page from the aviation playbook. Robotic Flight Simulator Surgery is a training method that uses high-fidelity virtual reality (VR) to help surgeons practice procedures in a risk-free environment, much like a pilot uses a flight simulator before ever leaving the ground (Enayati et al., 2016).
What Exactly Is It?
Instead of the traditional "see one, do one, teach one" model, this technology allows for "proficiency-based" learning (Larkins et al., 2022). Surgeons sit at a robotic console and interact with 3D digital environments that mimic real human anatomy.
Tactile Feedback: Advanced systems now use "haptics" to simulate the feel of tissue, giving the surgeon sensory cues as if they were physically touching the patient (Enayati et al., 2016).