IIT-Delhi, AIIMS doctors perform remote ultrasound scans from Antarctica
A team from IIT Delhi and AIIMS Delhi pulled off remote ultrasound scans from Antarctica (Maitri station), using a robotic arm at Antarctica's Maitri station.
Doctors in Delhi controlled the robot in real-time with haptic devices—no need to be on-site.
How it works
Doctors use a special joystick (haptic device) to move a robotic arm holding the ultrasound probe.
The scan images are streamed live back to them, letting them check things like the abdomen or heart just as if they were there in person.
Tech could help in rural areas, super-remote spots
Co-developed by IIT and AIIMS Delhi in 2022, this tech could now help people in super-remote spots—like Antarctica or rural India—get expert care.
As Dr Chandrashekhara put it during a demonstration at AIIMS Research Day on January 30, 2026, the system could boost healthcare access and help prepare for pandemics.