Science: World's first smiling robotic face made with living skin

The artificial skin was created in a lab using living cells. It is not only soft like genuine skin, but it also has the ability to regenerate itself when cut.

Updated on:

29 Jun 2024, 14:04

Japanese scientists discovered a way to attach living skin to robot faces, allowing them to grin and express themselves more realistically.

According to the Tokyo University researchers, the breakthrough came from mimicking human tissue architecture. The artificial skin was created in a lab using living cells. It is not only soft like genuine skin, but it also has the ability to regenerate itself when cut.

The team previously tried using mini-hooks as anchors, but they broke the experimental skin when the robot moved.

To replicate human skin's elastic ligaments, researchers bore microscopic holes in the robot's face and applied lab-engineered skin with collagen gel.⁠

While the prototype does not appear totally human, the researchers believe it paves the path for convincingly realistic, moving humanoids with self-healing skin.

"Another important challenge is creating human-like expressions by integrating sophisticated actuators, or muscles, inside the robot," Professor Takeuchi told reporters.

However, the findings could be beneficial in research into skin ageing, cosmetics, and surgical treatments, including plastic surgery.