Japanese scientists from the University of Tokyo have developed a way to attach cultivated human skin cells to a robotic face, making the robot "smile." This breakthrough promises applications in cosmetics and medicine. According to lead researcher Shoji Takeuchi, the result looks eerie but is an important step towards creating more realistic robots.The smiling robot is featured in a study published in the journal Cell Reports Physical Science. It is the product of a decade of research by Takeuchi's team in integrating biological and mechanical technologies in robotics. "For the first time, it has become possible to manipulate living skin," the scientist claims.In the future, the researchers plan to add more elements of real skin to the lab-grown skin, including a circulatory system and nerves. This could lead to the creation of safer platforms for testing cosmetics and drugs absorbed through the skin.
According to Takeuchi, living tissue has many advantages over metals and plastics, from the energy efficiency of the brain and muscles to the skin's ability to self-repair. It will also help produce more realistic and functional coverings for robots. However, there remains the challenge of eliminating the strange or unsettling feelings that such robots provoke in people."There is still a bit of eeriness in this," admits Takeuchi. "I think that creating robots from the same materials as humans and teaching them to display emotions could be one of the keys to bridging the gap between humans and machines."
