Figure 02's human-like gait is the product of the company's simulated reinforcement learning system, and is just the beginning of its plans to make its robots perform physical tasks more naturally. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn ...

To a robot, it might look like something from a horror film. Parts — a battery, circuit boards and wiring —are arrayed in pieces on a white lab bench. Metallic arms and legs lay inert on nearby shelves. A steady, mysterious thump resonates in the distance.

General surgery is still the main area for medical robots, but areas like orthopedics and brain surgery are expected to grow a lot soon. New technology, like AI and smaller, easier-to-use robots, is making medical robots better and more capable.