Japanese scientists have developed a synthetic equivalent of living skin using human cells, which can be applied to robotic surfaces to produce a realistic, albeit eerie, smile.
Researchers from the University of Tokyo recently published their findings, showcasing a pink, gel-like material capable of stretching into unsettling grins in a video accompanying their study in the journal Cell Reports Physical Science.
Using a gel loaded with skin-forming cells, they created a “robot covered with living skin,” aiming to advance android technology towards human-like appearances and functionalities.
Professor Shoji Takeuchi’s team expressed hopes that this innovation will offer insights into wrinkle formation, facial expressions physiology, and contribute to advancements in transplant materials and cosmetics.
Unlike traditional humanoid robots clad in silicone rubber skin that lacks self-healing and sweat capabilities, the scientists aim to imbue robots with biological skin’s self-healing properties, although achieving this remains a future challenge.
Previously, the team demonstrated collagen grafting on lab-grown skin covering a robotic finger to simulate repair processes, but applying similar tests to their smiling robotic skin remains a goal for future research.
Inspired by human skin ligaments, they engineered a method to create a “natural smile” with fluid motion by gelatinizing and securing the skin-like tissue within the robot’s structure.
