Goa, 16 February 2026

 

In a landmark achievement for remote healthcare delivery, a live demonstration of Tele-Robotic Ultrasonography (TRUS) successfully connected AIIMS New Delhi with India’s Maitri Research Station in Antarctica. The demonstration enabled real-time ultrasound imaging at Maitri, remotely operated by expert clinicians from AIIMS New Delhi, marking a historic step in tele-enabled healthcare for extreme environments.

The initiative was undertaken by the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India, in collaboration with AIIMS New Delhi, IIT Delhi through the IHub Foundation for Cobotics (IHFC), and Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital.

Speaking about the achievement, Dr. Thamban Meloth, Director, NCPOR, said that this was the first known implementation of such a tele-robotic diagnostic system at an Antarctic research station globally. “Healthcare delivery in Antarctica remains uniquely challenging due to extreme cold, prolonged isolation, and limited on-site medical infrastructure. In emergencies, timely imaging is critical for deciding local management or evacuation. The Tele-Robotic Ultrasonography initiative bridges this gap. The live demonstration confirmed the feasibility of conducting high-quality, real-time ultrasound examinations at Maitri Station under Antarctic conditions, with remote operation from AIIMS New Delhi,” he said.

The clinical foundation of the technology was established at AIIMS New Delhi during the COVID-19 pandemic, where tele-robotic ultrasound was pioneered for safe and precise remote imaging. Building on this expertise, the engineering architecture of the system was developed at IIT Delhi through IHFC, a Technology Innovation Hub under the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS), Department of Science & Technology, Government of India.

The teleoperation, networking, and control systems were designed by researchers at IIT Delhi through IHFC, enabling reliable real-time performance under the bandwidth constraints of Antarctica. The system deployment at Maitri was facilitated by NCPOR, which ensured safe transportation of equipment and personnel, robust connectivity, and adherence to expedition protocols.

The vision to operationalize tele-robotic ultrasound in Antarctica was conceptualized by Dr. Vikas Dogra, Clinical Head of Pulmonology at Rajiv Gandhi Super Specialty Hospital, drawing from over a decade of association with the Indian Antarctic Programme and first-hand understanding of the clinical challenges in extreme isolation.

“The objectives of the demonstration were to validate technical feasibility under Antarctic conditions, to demonstrate seamless real-time connectivity between AIIMS and Maitri Station, and to initiate informed dialogue on the future integration of advanced tele-enabled medical technologies in polar missions,” said Dr. Shailendra Saini, Scientist F and Group Director, Antarctic Operations.

For decades, NCPOR has sustained India’s scientific presence in Antarctica through the Indian Antarctic Programme, with AIIMS New Delhi providing continuous medical expertise, advisory support, and trained expedition doctors.

If operational sustainability is established, the TRUS platform could significantly strengthen medical decision-making during Antarctic expeditions by enabling expert clinicians in India to conduct real-time ultrasound examinations, support evidence-based evacuation decisions, and enhance on-site clinical confidence.

 

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PIB Panaji | Ambadas Yadav/Darshana Rane

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