India has marked a major medical achievement in one of the world’s most extreme environments. Doctors at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, successfully carried out the country’s first remote ultrasound procedure in Antarctica.
The patient was stationed at India’s Maitri Research Station, over 12,000 kilometres away from the medical team.
The milestone demonstration took place in February 2026 during AIIMS Research Day and was led by Dr Chandrashekhara S.H. During the event, AIIMS doctors performed a live tele-ultrasound on volunteers at the Antarctic research station. Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh witnessed the real-time demonstration from New Delhi.
The project brought together expertise from multiple scientific institutions working in artificial intelligence and robotics. Dr Subir Kumar Saha of Indian Institute of Technology Delhi played a pivotal role in designing and refining the tele-robotic system. Researchers Udayan Banerjee and Siddharth Gupta contributed to system installation, configuration, and optimisation. Clinical guidance was provided by Dr Vikas Dogra from Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital, who helped conceptualise its use at Indian Antarctic stations.
The procedure employed an AI-enabled tele-robotic ultrasound platform. From Delhi, a specialist remotely controlled a robotic arm holding the ultrasound probe in Antarctica. The system transmitted movements in real time and provided instantaneous pressure feedback, closely simulating the experience of an in-person examination.
The technology was developed through collaboration between IIT Delhi and the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research. Artificial intelligence played a crucial role in maintaining scanning precision, stability, and responsiveness throughout the procedure.
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