ROBOTiS is a high-fidelity robotic surgery simulator built around an innovative approach: offering a compact and accessible solution designed to democratize robotic surgery training.

More than just a simulation device, it is the result of years of ideas, iterations, technical challenges and, above all, collaboration between experts in high-fidelity simulation software, industrial design and the medical field.

Discover the story behind ROBOTiS, and more specifically the people, collaboration and work that helped turn a concept into a high-performance surgical training simulator sold worldwide, now bearing the CE marking.

A little history

A few years ago, InSimo began developing simulation software for robotic surgery and surgical suturing as part of the European DISSEcT surgical robotics project. The research and development work was carried out in collaboration with Inria (French National Institute for Research in Digital Science and Technology) and IRCAD (Research Institute against Digestive Cancer).

Building on the quality of the results achieved, InSimo decided to take these initial developments further and create its own robotic surgery simulator, with a clear ambition: to offer a different approach to this highly specialized field by making high-fidelity robotic surgery simulators more accessible, compact, and designed for broader use.

The goal: to support the development of robotic surgery worldwide and enable more and more healthcare professionals to train on these technologies of the future, which are increasingly being adopted and widely recognized.

For InSimo, this meant designing a generic, universal and accessible solution, capable of adapting to the diverse applications of robotic surgery. The idea of a portable simulator quickly emerged, making the design of a dedicated hardware console a key challenge in bringing this vision to life. 

And that is how the ROBOTiS project was born.

Since then, the simulator has evolved significantly before reaching the level of realism and high fidelity we know today. In particular, the simulator’s hardware components have undergone major development: essential to delivering a simulation experience that matches the realism and performance of the technology developed by InSimo. 

For several years now, we have been working closely with the Italian company BBZ, which provides tailor-made solutions for training and development in robotic surgery, and supplies the hardware components for the ROBOTiS simulator. 

Our contacts at BBZ, Davide Zerbato, Ph.D., Software Design, and Francesco Bovo, Hardware Design, look back on our collaboration: 

InSimo & BBZ bring complementary expertise to the project: BBZ has a stronger engineering focus, particularly in the design and control of medical robots and teleoperation consoles. InSimo, on the other hand, has extensive experience in both research and the implementation of real-time simulation algorithms. Both companies also share close partnerships and strong ties with hospitals and surgical training centers. 

Design at the service of the simulation experience

The design of ROBOTiS was first conceived to meet the requirements of surgical simulation and the needs of users, while addressing a key challenge: designing a compact, easily transportable solution that can adapt to different training environments.

The robotic console was therefore developed around several key constraints:

• Ergonomics

   

• Accessibility of controls

   

• Positioning of the various components

   

• Footprint

   

• Portability

   

• Ease of use

The InSimo and BBZ teams also worked closely together to create a strong visual identity that is uniquely associated with ROBOTiS.

The simulator features InSimo’s signature colors, including its iconic pink, used on the console and forearm supports. This choice immediately establishes ROBOTiS as part of the InSimo ecosystem, while adding a distinctive touch to a technical and industrial piece of equipment.

Davide Zerbato Ph.D., Software design, and Francesco Bovo, Hardware Design at BBZ, share an anecdote about the simulator’s pink design:

CE marking: a key Milestone for ROBOTiS in 2026

The CE marking of ROBOTiS, obtained in 2026, confirms its compliance with the European requirements applicable to its product category.

Obtaining CE marking involves identifying the requirements applicable to the product, assessing and managing risks, carrying out the necessary checks and tests, and compiling the documentation required to demonstrate compliance.

This milestone marks the transition from a project under development to a product ready for wider deployment across Europe. The ROBOTiS simulator has already been installed in France at the Medical Training Center in Rouen – the first French simulation center to choose ROBOTiS to develop its robotic surgery training programs – as well as in Morocco, Abu Dhabi and Italy.

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