Scientists at the University of Tokyo have discovered a revolutionary method to attach living human skin to robotic faces without causing damage or tearing.
This innovation promises to significantly enhance the ability of robots to display realistic human expressions, such as smiling and other facial movements.
The research team, led by Professor Shoji Takeuchi from the Institute of Industrial Science, drew inspiration from the structure of human skin ligaments. The team created ‘anchors’ by applying collagen gel to small V-shaped holes on the robot’s exterior surface.
According to Professor Takeuchi, this method offers “a more seamless and durable attachment.” The combination of human skin's flexibility and the strong adhesion provided by these anchors allows for mechanical movement without damaging the skin.
Takeuchi’s team has also developed a living robot skin using collagen a protein found in human skin and human dermal fibroblasts, the primary cell type in connective tissue. This innovation has enabled a robotic finger to bend without breaking the skin, marking a significant advancement over previous methods that often damaged the skin.
Notably, this new approach allows robots to heal their own skin, mimicking the self-repair capabilities of human skin. While the technology is still in its developmental stages, it holds immense potential for future applications.
“For quite some time, one of the major issues when trying to attach human skin to mechanical beings was manipulating the soft and wet biological tissue during the development process,” Professor Takeuchi explained. “With this new method, we believe the research could also have implications for skin ageing, plastic surgery, and cosmetics.”
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