Living human-like skin is robotic finger’s strong point
A WAY of covering a robotic finger with living human cells has been developed by Japanese scientists.
It may sound like the realms of sci-fi classics such as Blade Runner or Ex Machina, but researchers at the University of Tokyo are bringing androids a step closer by putting living skin on robots.
The method not only gave a robotic finger skin-like texture, but also made it water repellent and self-healing.
Prof Shoji Takeuchi, the study’s author, said: “The finger looks slightly ‘sweaty’ straight out of the culture medium. Since the finger is driven by an electric motor, it is also interesting to hear the clicking sounds of the motor in harmony with a finger that looks just like a real one.”
Looking “real” like a human is one of the top priorities for humanoid robots that are often tasked to interact with humans in healthcare and service industries.
Prof Takeuchi said a human-like appearance can improve communication and empathy.
While current silicone skin made for robots can mimic human appearance, he explained that it “falls short” when it comes to delicate textures such as wrinkles and lacks skin-specific functions.
Previous attempts at fabricating living skin sheets to cover robots have also had limited success, since it is challenging to conform them to dynamic objects with uneven surfaces.
Prof Takeuchi said: “To efficiently cover surfaces with skin cells, we established a tissue moulding method to directly mould skin tissue around the robot, which resulted in a seamless skin coverage on a robotic finger.”
To craft the skin, the Tokyo team first submerged the robotic finger in a cylinder filled with a solution of collagen and human dermal fibroblasts, the two main components that make up the skin’s connective tissues.
Prof Takeuchi said the study’s success lies within the collagen and fibroblast mixture, which shrank and tightly conformed to the finger.
Just like paint primers, the layer provided a uniform foundation for the next coat of cells – human epidermal keratinocytes – to stick to.
Prof Takeuchi said: “The crafted skin had enough strength and elasticity to bear the dynamic movements as the robotic finger curled and stretched.”
When wounded, he said the crafted skin could even self-heal with the help of a collagen bandage, which gradually morphed into the skin.
The study was published in the journal Matter.