Recently, Sun Yat-sen University (SYSU) released its "Announcement on Commending the 2024 Students of the Year," with the High-Precision Ophthalmic Surgical Robot R&D Team—recommended by Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center (ZOC)—earning a place on this prestigious list.
Dr. Xu Andi (team member) during the public defense for the Students of the Year award
1. High-Precision Ophthalmic Surgical Robot R&D Team: Visionary Innovators Building National Capabilities
Under the joint guidance of Professor Lin Haotian (President of ZOC) and Professor Huang Kai (Director of the Institute of Artificial Intelligence and Unmanned Systems, School of Computer Science), the R&D team—comprising doctoral candidate Xu Andi (ZOC), master’s candidate Huang Yining (ZOC), doctoral candidate Li Yanlin (School of Computer Science), and doctoral candidate Liang Hongli (School of Artificial Intelligence)—collaboratively developed a micron-level remote ophthalmic surgical system: the High-Precision Ophthalmic Surgical Robot. With students from diverse backgrounds (clinical ophthalmology, mechanical engineering, computer science, etc.) shouldering the main responsibilities, this young team has an average age of 26.
Addressing the challenges of high complexity in fundus microsurgery and slow training of ophthalmic surgeons, the team integrated medicine, engineering, research, and industry. They strive to resolve the contradiction of supply-demand imbalance in high-quality medical resources through emerging technologies, focusing on clinical needs and health security. By strengthening medical-engineering collaboration and breaking technical barriers, they created this micron-precision ophthalmic surgical equipment.
2. Medical-engineering Synergy Overcomes Challenges
Transitioning from real clinical needs to engineering technology R&D, the team underwent a long period of initial adaptation and coordination. Team members stated, “Coming from two disciplines with distinct knowledge systems, we initially faced communication barriers. However, our goal has always been consistent: to tackle this tough nut.”
In the project’s R&D phase, the primary issue to address was the most critical challenge in ophthalmic surgical robots: the Remote Center of Motion (RCM) constraint. Taking this as a breakthrough point, the team explored coordinated hardware-software development, successfully developing key components for ophthalmic surgical robots and enabling micron-level robotic eye surgery. Continuous optimization of software, algorithms, and architecture—coupled with multiple rounds of animal model experiments—led to innovations like intelligent tremor elimination, intraoperative hovering, and semi-automatic needle insertion, steadily enhancing the performance of the robotic platform. They also invited several senior ophthalmic surgeons to conduct practical operation tests, ultimately achieving a seamless integration of medical and engineering knowledge.
3. Chasing Light: Breaking Spatiotemporal Barriers with Micron-Level Remote Ophthalmic Surgery
To explore new methods for transcending geographical and temporal limits in ophthalmic surgery, the team further developed a Remote High-Precision Retinal Surgical Robot System. Leveraging SYSU’s interdisciplinary strengths, they explored an experimentally feasible remote ophthalmic surgery protocol and ultimately achieved remote mechanical control with micron-level precision that meets the needs of clinical trials.
In June 2023, collaborating with multiple institutions, the team performed the world’s first trans-sea remote micron-level ophthalmic surgery (Guangzhou to Haikou). This breakthrough was covered by over 20 media outlets, including China Government Network, China Daily, and Guangzhou Daily, and was named one of SYSU’s Top 10 Research Advances of 2023.
China Daily coverage and SYSU’s 2023 Top 10 Research News
4. Young Role Models: National Champions in Innovation
The team has delved deeply into the field of robotics, actively participating in major national competitions and winning multiple top-tier awards.
Participating in the National College Student Robotics Competition and winning the Grand Prize
In the 2023 National College Student Robotics Innovation Exchange Camp and Competition, sponsored by the China Youth League and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the team won the national Grand Prize of the competition. The "Bloom Cup" 5G Application Competition is currently the highest-level and most authoritative national competition in the field of 5G applications in China. On behalf of Sun Yat-sen University, the team, together with various cooperative units, joined the competition and won the national First Prize in the Integrated Technology Track of the 6th "Bloom Cup" 5G Application Competition.
Grand Prize of the National College Student Robotics Innovation Exchange Camp and Competition
National First Prize of the 6th "Bloom Cup" 5G Application Competition of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology
“The responsibility of our times rests on the shoulders of youth; its glory belongs to them.” These young “light chasers,” driven by a mission to prevent and treat eye diseases, are contributing their youthful strength to Healthy China through their exploration in the automation of ophthalmic robotic surgery. In the future, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, rooted in the Greater Bay Area with global vision, will continuously help young students build dreams, pursue dreams, and realize dreams.
