The gel containing collagen mixed with living skin cells, which is capable of self-healing and can also be used on more complex surfaces, was developed by staff at the University of Tokyo under the leadership of Professor Takeuchi Sudzi.
Takeucsi is a pioneer in the field of hybrid biorobotics, with the Biohybrid lab he leads not only developing robotic skin and limbs powered by natural muscles, but also dealing with 3D-printed meat.
The Takeuchi family made major progress in this field two years ago, when they introduced a moving robotic finger covered in living skin. The special skin wasn't installed on this yet, it was like a glove.
For the skin that can be applied to the face, the Japanese researchers have already implemented the safe application of the material through small holes created in the robot’s internal structure. The solution to this problem was not trivial, because in the first round the artificial skin was attached with small hooks protruding from the frame, but this did not result in a smooth aesthetic surface.
In many ways, the new development is superior to the silicone rubber coating currently in use, and the natural effect isn't one of them at the moment. In the video provided by the researchers, the material performs animated movements, but the shiny pink surface looks more like a pudding with smiling glass eyes — there's a dose of fun and excitement familiar from Ghostbusters.
All this is just the beginning. According to Takeuchi's timeline, the future is to create thicker, more realistic skin, in which sweat glands, sebaceous glands, pores, capillaries and nerves will be integrated, and with the help of motors, the movement of the human face will be imitated.
Japanese researchers aren't just thinking about robots. Artificial skin enhanced with sensors could be used for cosmetic experiments, and aging could be modeled, but they say it could also be suitable for modeling surgery or plastic surgery.
(CNET, New Atlas, TechXplore)
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