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evident result of these impressive advances is certainly represented by the widespread use of robots. With
this term, we refer to a large variety of machines with very different purposes and levels of complexity, from
industrial manufacturing systems to humanoids provided with artificial intelligence. Over time, robotic
technology has been naturally implemented also in the operating theatres, becoming one of the most
debated topics in surgery over the last years. In the present article, we focus the observation field to general
surgery, trying to trace the most important phases in the development of robotics in colorectal surgery.

DEFINITION AND ETYMOLOGY
The word “robot” is used to indicate a programmable machine able to carry out several tasks in aid of, or in
place of, men with a variable degree of autonomy. It comes from the Czech noun “robota”, for forced labor
or hard work, reminding of the status of serfdom in the feudal society, and sharing the same radical of the
[1]
words meaning “work” in many current Slavic languages, such as Polish, Ukrainian, and Russian .
The Czech writer Karel Čapek first used this term in his science fiction play titled “R.U.R.” (Rossum’s
Universal Robots), published in 1920. This work deals with artificial workers, indistinguishable from
men, produced from synthetic organic matter with the purpose of freeing mankind from physical fatigue.
However, “robots” rapidly spread all over, start rebelling against men, and conquer the world.

Later, in 1943, the visionary American writer Isaac Asimov first used the word “robotics” in his science
fiction story titled “Runaround”. Here, he established the three “Laws of Robotics”, a set of rules hardwired
into the artificial brain of autonomous humanoid robots to underlie their behavior and prevent them from
rebelling against their creators.

Hence, since their origin, two main concepts converge into the terms “robot” and “robotics”: work in
support of men and the need of control by the latter.

HISTORY
Knowing the history of the implementation of robotic technology in surgery is useful for appreciating
current advances in this field. Here, some important landmarks are reported to offer a general overview.

Ancient times: “automata”
From ancient times, the idea of self-operating machines, usually indicated as “automata”, is present in all
cultures, from west to east.

The word “automaton” (plural “automata”) comes from the Greek word “αὐτόματον”, a neuter noun
meaning “something self-acting”, which was first used by Homer in the Iliad referring to self-opening doors
and self-moving wheeled tripods.

Several myths of the Greek and Roman tradition deal with “automata”. In the Iliad, Homer tells that
Hephaestus, the god of fire, forges, metallurgy, and sculpture, constructed golden handmaids to help him in
his forge on the Island of Lemnos. In the “Metamorphoses”, Ovid reports the myth of Pygmalion, a sculptor
falling in love with his statue, Galatea, who was transformed into an animated creature by the goddess
Aphrodite to fulfill Pygmalion’s prayer.

Halfway around the world, in ancient China, during the Zhou Dynasty (1023-957 BC), the artificer Yan Shi
[2,3]
showed to King Mu a human-like machine that could move and sing .

Several Greek mathematicians were known for constructing automata. The first automaton was built by
Archytas of Tarentum (428-347 BC), and it consisted of a pigeon-shaped steam-operated flying machine.