Researchers in Tokyo have developed a robot face made of living skin. This means that humanoid robots could soon appear more human. The experiment is also intended to help improve plastic surgery.
It may look slimy, but it’s friendly: A research team at the University of Tokyo has found a new way to give robots a more human appearance. They grew skin from living human cells and attached it to a machine with eyes.
Robot: Researchers develop face from human skin
The team led by Professor Shoji Takeuchi took inspiration from the ligaments of human skin for the experiment, one said University report. The artificial skin tissue is not only as soft as human skin, but can also repair itself if damaged. In order to attach them to a humanoid robot, the scientists inserted a special perforation.
Takeuchi is considered a pioneer in the field of biohybrid robotics, where biology and mechanical engineering meet. So far, his lab has developed mini-robots that run on biological muscle tissue. 3D printed, lab-grown meat is also part of its portfolio, as is the new artificial skin.
“By mimicking human skin ligament structures and using custom-made V-shaped perforations in solid materials, we have found a way to bind skin to complex structures,” Takeuchi said. “The skin’s natural flexibility and strong nature of adhesion mean the skin can move with the robot’s mechanical components without tearing or peeling off.”
The new anchoring method allows the flexible skin tissue to conform to whatever shape it is attached to. In this case, that means a relatively flat robot face can suddenly smile – giving it a human-like expression.
Experiment provides data on human skin development
It not only helps the robot look increasingly lifelike. The cosmetics industry could also benefit. In one experiment, for example, the research team made the robot face smile for a month and studied the formation of facial wrinkles in the skin. Further research could be useful for training plastic surgeons.
The latest results of the study were published in the journal Cell Reports Physical Science published. However, the researchers assume that many more years of testing will be necessary before the technology finds its way into everyday life. “Another important challenge is to create human-like facial expressions by integrating sophisticated actuators or muscles into the robot,” Takeuchi explains.
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