Hands‐Free Camera Assistant: Autonomous Laparoscope Manipulation in Robot‐Assisted Surgery

ABSTRACT Background Robotic camera holders in laparoscopic surgery improve surgical efficiency and reduce the burden on medical specialists. Methods We propose a multi‐task compliant control framework that integrates deep learning methods with robot kinematics. This framework addresses key challenges in surgical procedures, such as maintaining the remote center of motion (RCM) constraint and achieving autonomous field of view (FOV) adjustment. Results Experimental results demonstrate that our framework follows various trajectories with mean response time of less than 2 s, maximum RCM constraint error of less than 5 mm, mean tracking error of less than 20 pixels, and mean depth error of less than 2.5 mm. Additionally, its scalability enabled successful integration of a virtual fixture to prevent tissue collisions. Conclusion Our framework enables autonomous, rapid, and safe laparoscope manipulation, enhancing the continuity and efficiency of surgical procedures while conserving specialist healthcare resources.