A Step Closer to Humanoid Androids
Researchers at the University of Tokyo have achieved a significant milestone in the development of lifelike androids. They have successfully created a bio-hybrid robot with living, lab-grown skin that can move and form facial expressions, including a smile.
This breakthrough involves a novel technique for binding living tissue to an inorganic frame, mimicking the way skin ligaments connect skin to underlying structures in humans. The team drilled V-shaped holes into the robot's face and applied a solution containing dermal cells. This solution gelled and hardened, creating a secure and natural-looking connection between the skin and the robot's frame.
The ability to move these adhesive ligaments allows the robot to lift its cheeks, forming an eerie yet undeniably human-like smile. This development brings us one step closer to the realization of androids that are indistinguishable from humans.
The researchers envision further advancements, including the incorporation of sweat glands, pores, and blood vessels to enhance the skin's realism. They also aim to integrate the skin with muscles, enabling a wider range of facial expressions.
This research builds upon the team's previous work on a robotic finger with self-healing skin. However, the challenge of creating smooth, realistic facial expressions required a new approach to address the issue of anchors protruding from the skin during movement.
The team acknowledges the need to increase the number of adhesive holes to achieve a wider variety of expressions. However, they face the challenge of ensuring proper solution penetration and binding within smaller holes.
This groundbreaking research, published in the journal Cell Reports Physical Science, marks a significant step towards the creation of truly lifelike androids. The ability to integrate living skin with robotic bodies opens up exciting possibilities for the future of human-robot interaction.