Tokyo University scientists have created artificial skin in the laboratory using living cells. It is not only soft, like the real thing, but also able to recover if it is cut. This scientific breakthrough not only opens the way to creating realistic humanoid robots, but can also be useful for research on skin aging, cosmetics and surgical procedures, in particular plastic surgery.
Japanese scientists have found a way to attach living skin to the face of robots. At first, the team tried to use minihooks as anchors, but they damaged the skin during the movement of the robot, writes BBC.
In people, the skin’is attached to subordinate structures with the help of ties &mdash ; tiny ropes made of flexible collagen and elastane. To recreate this, the researchers drilled lots of small holes into the robot and applied a gel containing collagen, followed by a layer of artificial skin on top. The gel closes the pores and binds the skin to the robot.
"Imitating the human skin-connective structure and using specially made V-shaped perforations in hard materials, we found a way to connect the skin to complex structures, — said lead researcher Professor Shoji Takeuchi. — The natural flexibility of the skin and the strong bonding method mean that the skin can move with the mechanical components of the robot without tearing or flaking».
According to the researchers, it will take many more years of testing before the technology becomes an everyday reality.
«Another important challenge is to create human expressions by integrating complex actuators or muscles inside the robot», — said Professor Takeuchi.