Doctors have conducted a successful experiment using a robot system to perform remote surgery between Singapore and Japan.

The device, called “Hinotori,” is Japan's first surgical robot. The goal in the experiment was to remove a cancer tumor from an artificial stomach.

A surgeon used a so-called “cockpit” located in Singapore, while an “operation unit” in Japan performed the surgery.

The unit has four arms equipped with various instruments and an endoscopic camera.

Professor Uyama Ichiro said he noticed latency, or delays, of about one-tenth of a second in the device's movements.

But he added that he was able to adapt to the lag.

Uyama said he hopes to teach surgery remotely with the assistance of robots.