Minimally invasive surgery has developed rapidly over the past two decades because of its good surgical results, such as less pain, shorter recovery time, and lower complication rate, while gradually becoming widely accepted by the majority of patients. Minimally invasive techniques have brought innovation to the field of surgery, and robotic surgical systems have further refined the definition of minimally invasive surgery and opened up new horizons. When Moret first reported laparoscopic cholecystectomy in 1987, it brought about a revolution in surgery called “minimally invasive”. However, laparoscopic techniques have some limitations in some areas. These include limitations in the movement of the surgical instruments (freedom of movement), the two-dimensional image, the instability of the image (frequent movements due to prolonged holding), and the ergonomic position and angle for the surgeon. Robotic surgical systems offer a solution to these shortcomings of lumpectomy. While some simple computer-assisted robotic surgical systems have been available since the late 1980s, the application and development of abdominal surgery began in the early 1990s, when Computer Motion first designed the world’s first robotic device for minimally invasive surgery in 1991. In 1993, Dr. Jonathan Sackier of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center performed the world’s first robotic system-assisted laparoscopic cholecystectomy. In September 2001, Professor J. Marescaux and his team were the first to perform telesurgery (i.e., the Lindbergh procedure). Currently, more than 200,000 surgical operations have been performed with the help of various levels of robotic-assisted systems, spanning almost all areas of surgery. And robotic surgical systems have become even more sophisticated. Robotic Surgical Systems Nowadays, commonly used robotic systems include the Da Vinci system and the Zeus robot. In the case of the Da Vinci system, for example, the robotic system consists of three parts: the operating table (Figure 1), the robotic arm (Figure 2), and the lumpectomy instruments. The operating table provides the surgeon with images from separate viewfinders for the left and right eyes. The system provides the operator with a high-definition, three-dimensional image by simulating the human brain’s ability to integrate image deviations and generate depth of view. In addition to the robotic arm that controls the camera, the Da Vinci system includes three robotic arms used to assemble the lumpectomy instruments. The robotic system’s lumpectomy instruments have the same degree of freedom of movement as a human wrist in open surgery, with seven degrees of freedom, compared to four degrees of freedom of movement for conventional lumpectomy instruments. The surgeon can sit at the console and control the robotic arm by manipulating a joystick similar to a gamepad to perform delicate surgical operations. Advantages and disadvantages of robotic systems Robotic systems offer several advantages. First, the robotic system provides the surgeon with a high-definition, three-dimensional image, rather than relying solely on polarization and color separation techniques. As a result, even though the surgical field is limited due to the angle of the lens, there is an unimaginable level of realism. This system allows the surgeon to see around as if it were an open surgery and has the ability to zoom in and out at the same time. Second, the robot filters out the surgeon’s hand tremors during intraoperative manipulation of instruments. This treatment allows for unprecedented precision in surgery. Once again, the robot’s instruments have a near-human range of motion and the ability to move more than 360 degrees in a very small incision compared to conventional lumpectomy. Finally, the combination of a robotic operating system and telecommunication allows for remote collaborative surgery. In the past few decades, robotic telesurgery has been used to eliminate the barrier of distance. It allows physicians who cannot reach the site to participate and perform the surgical steps together. Due to these advantages, robotic surgical systems allow for minimally invasive procedures for complex surgeries. The high cost of instruments is the biggest drawback of robotic systems. A Da Vinci system costs approximately several million dollars, and its annual maintenance costs are approximately 10% of the total value, in addition to the cost of consuming surgical instruments. The price of the robotic system has limited its popularity as the surgical procedure of choice in large medical centers and the in-depth study of its technology. Other disadvantages include the lack of haptic feedback. Current status and development of robotic surgery Currently, robotic systems are used in almost all areas of surgery. This includes most of the gastrointestinal surgeries (lumpectomy cholecystectomy, Nissen/Toupet fundoplication, gastric diversion surgery for obesity, esophageal surgery, rectal, pancreatic and liver surgery), urological surgeries (radical prostate cancer, radical kidney cancer), gynecological surgeries, and robot-assisted thoracoscopy. Although robotic systems make up for many of the deficiencies in conventional lumpectomy, there are many limiting factors to its popularity as of now. First of all, the most important reason limiting the popularity of robotic systems is the price issue. We believe that as technology evolves, low-cost robotic systems will emerge to meet the high demand of the market. In addition, although the 3D imaging system of the robotic system can compensate for the lack of tactile feedback in lumpectomy by improving the safety and accuracy of the procedure. However, in some cases, the lack of haptic feedback can still cause certain unexpected conditions. Therefore, various alternatives are being implemented and researched. The robotic system makes it possible to perform collaborative surgery remotely because the information transfer is controlled electronically. It enables patients from developing countries to be treated by world-renowned surgeons in their own countries. Finally, through the combination of virtual reality technology and preoperative simulation, robotic systems will lead surgery into a new era of semi-automatic and even fully automatic remote surgery. By fusing patient anatomical data with 3D reconstructions, it will allow the surgeon to practice the results of a particular patient simulation several times before surgery to find the best solution for that patient. Conclusion Over the past nearly 20 years, we have experienced a shift from traditional open surgery to laparoscopic surgery, from robotic arm lens assist systems to robotic surgery, and finally to the current remote collaborative surgery. Although robotic systems are not currently popular enough to become mandatory equipment in the operating room, if we can predict the future, we can say that it is only a matter of time. The robots of the future will be smaller, cheaper, have haptic feedback systems, and be able to perform remote collaborative surgery. For now, it is clear that robotic systems are still a relatively advanced technology for us, and there is still much room for clinical applications and benefits.