Live human skin for robots, made by Japanese scientists – Watch video

Another step to create humanoid robots that will look like people as much as possible, they did Japanese researchers by creating living human skin for robots. They presented one robotic finger which has a soft skin texture, which also repels water and has self-healing properties.

The researchers, led by him Professor Soji Takeucci of the University of Tokyoa pioneer in bio-hybrid robotics (a combination of robotics and biomechanics that combines biological and artificial materials), made the relevant publication in the magazine for new materials “Matter”.

Ordinary robotic silicone skin can mimic a human appearance, but not with details like wrinkles, nor does it have the same functions as a human. The originality is that the new skin develops on the spot on the robot, instead of being created separately, it is cut to the size of the robot and then adapted to it.

With the new innovative method, the a robotic finger is immersed in a cylinder with a solution of collagen and human dermal fibroblasts, of the two main components that make up the connective tissues of human skin. This mixture adapts to the robot and forms the basis for a subsequent layer of cutaneous human keratinocytes that attach to it, making up 90% of the outer layer, giving the robotic arm a natural skin feel.

The new skin is elastic enough to move as the robotic finger folds and stretches. It can even be self-repaired with a collagen patch. However, it is weaker than natural human skin and can not survive for long without a constant supply of nutrients and retention of moisture.

Takeucci said: ““I think living skin will be the ultimate solution to giving robots the look and feel of living things, as it is made of exactly the same material that covers animal bodies.” “In the future,” he added, “we will develop more advanced versions of the skin, which will include sensory nerve cells, hair follicles and sweat glands.” We will also try to cover larger areas “.

The Japanese robotist believes that in this way humanoid robots will be able to communicate and interact with humans in a more natural way in various roles, as envisioned by science fiction. Some other experts, however, doubt this, believing precisely that the great external resemblance of a machine to humans will cause an instinctive aversion and negative reactions. In any case, the moment is still far away absolutely anthropomorphic robots they will walk among us.