Researchers Make a Smiling Robotic Face From Living Skin

Scientists at the University of Tokyo have developed a robotic face that can stretch its features into a smile, thanks to lab-grown living skin. In a recent study published in the journal Cell Reports Physical Science, researchers describe their novel method for attaching engineered skin to the robot’s face. This breakthrough not only advances robot facial technology but also has implications for fields like cosmetics and orthopedic surgery.

Creating lifelike expressions on robotic faces has been a challenge. While non-living skin on robots can suffer lasting damage, living skin has the remarkable ability to heal itself. However, attaching skin to complex surfaces like faces is more difficult due to their contours.

The research team took inspiration from human skin ligaments. They introduced v-shaped holes in the robot’s face, similar to ligaments found below external skin tissue in animals. These holes were filled with a collagen gel, which served as anchors for the lab-engineered skin. A water vapor-based plasma treatment helped the gel cling to the underlying material, allowing the skin to move with the mechanical components of the robot without tearing or peeling away.

This breakthrough could lead to more realistic humanoid robots, soft robots, and even grafts for plastic surgery. By replicating human appearance to some extent, the researchers have paved the way for expressive robotic faces that mimic our own smiles and other emotions. The natural flexibility of the skin combined with strong adhesion makes this innovation promising for various applications.

The smiling robotic face made from living skin represents a remarkable achievement in bioengineering and robotics. As technology continues to evolve, we may soon see more robots with human-like expressions, enhancing our interactions with these machines.