A comment on my post about SpeedPAL reminded me of a system I actually encountered in Seoul back in 2017: the SOLOASSIST II, during my visit to the IRSS at Yonsei University.
AKTORmed has now built a substantial clinical presence around its robotic camera-holder platform, with more than 800 systems reported in use. And yes, there is certainly a clinical indication for a robotic scope holder: stable camera control, hands-free positioning and improved ergonomics can be useful in minimally invasive surgery.
But looking at the technology from a historical perspective, I am not sure that SOLOASSIST II represents a radical departure from the concept introduced by AESOP three decades earlier. Though perhaps that is precisely the interesting point. Sometimes the robot’s job is simply to hold the camera, and hold it well. And that is already a legitimate robotic function. That is what SOLOASSIST II is, a smart scope holder.
J Granell. Sep 27, 2026