By Lucy Adautin
Japanese researchers have developed a living skin equivalent using human cells that can be affixed to robotic surfaces, creating a realistic — if creepy — smile.
Scientists from the University of Tokyo shared their findings this week, accompanied by a video of the pink, gooey material being stretched into a creepy grin.
Their study, published in the journal Cell Reports Physical Science, described the use of a “skin-forming cell-laden gel” to produce a “robot covered with living skin.”
The team, specializing in biohybrid robots, aims for this technology to contribute to the development of androids with human-like appearances and abilities.
“We also hope this will help shed better light on wrinkle formations and the physiology of facial expressions,” and help to develop transplant materials and cosmetics, the team led by Professor Shoji Takeuchi said.
This new material could mark a shift from traditional humanoid robots that use silicone rubber for skin, which lacks the ability to sweat or heal itself.
While the scientists aim to endow robots with the self-healing properties of biological skin, they acknowledge that they are not yet at that point.
In earlier experiments, they successfully grafted collagen onto a cut in lab-grown skin on a robotic finger, demonstrating its reparative potential.
However, they noted that similar repair tests on their smiling robotic skin remain a challenge for the future.
To achieve what they termed a “natural smile” with fluid movement, the researchers gelatinized the skin-like tissue and anchored it inside the robot’s cavities, drawing inspiration from human skin ligaments.
