Affordable Virtual Reality Simulation for Robotic Surgery: Preliminary Usability and Educational Evaluation

Mateusz Wójcikowski, Diego Dall’Alba, Sabina Martyniak, Szymon Płotka, Renata Szydlak, Piotr Walecki, Andrzej A Kononowicz, Przemyslaw Korzeniowski

VR Simulator for Robotic-Assisted Surgery Training
This study explored the use of a VR-based robotic surgery simulator designed for medical education. The simulator, compatible with Meta Quest 2/3/Pro headsets, was tested by 67 international medical students to evaluate its usability and educational value.
The system reproduces the cholecystectomy procedure using the Extended Position-Based Dynamics (XPBD) method to simulate soft tissue behavior in real time (1 kHz physics, 90 Hz graphics). Most participants rated the simulator as a valuable learning tool, with over 80% reporting improved understanding of anatomy and surgical workflows.
Students appreciated the safe, immersive practice environment and the opportunity for repeated training. Suggested improvements included enhancing tissue realism, diversifying the range of surgical scenarios, and optimizing the user interface for VR interaction. Overall, the project highlights the strong potential of VR simulators to transform surgical training.
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Conference: Hamlyn Symposium on Medical Robotics 2025