A video shows the world’s first robotic face carved from human flesh sporting a very creepy grin.
Scientists in Japan have discovered a way to attach artificial skin tissue to humanoid robots.
Taking inspiration from the ligaments in human skin, the team created special holes in the robot’s face to allow the skin layers to attach.
Scientists, led by Professor Masaharu Takeuchi of the University of Tokyo, claim that their groundbreaking invention could make some robots, which are already capable of operating independently, even more mobile.
These horrifying images were published after a leading tech expert told The Sun why AI replacing human jobs might not be bad news.
They believe work may change dramatically, but there should still be room for humans in the workplace.
“Right now, I’m convinced that work is going to change,” said Elizabeth Varghese, a technology strategist who spoke at News Corp’s Women in Tech Conference in New York.
“I believe there will be many more new jobs that we have never heard of. We are already seeing it in the field of social media content creators.”
She added: “I believe that job lifecycles change and they change every three months, but I also believe there is a job for everyone.”
The professor and his team say their research, published in the journal Cell Reports Physical Science, could be useful for cosmetic and surgical training.
Professor Takeuchi’s lab, the Biohybrid Systems Laboratory, has developed mini-robots that walk using living muscle tissue, 3D-printed cultured meat, and even artificial skin with healing capabilities.
But he wanted to broaden his expertise and improve robotic skin.
“By mimicking the human skin ligament structure and using specially made V-shaped holes in the solid material, we found a way to bond the skin into complex structures,” he said.
“Skin’s natural flexibility and strong adhesive properties allow it to move alongside the robot’s mechanical parts without tearing or peeling.”
In the past, scientists have tried to secure skin tissue to solid surfaces using tiny anchors or hooks, but these could cause damage during movement.
Instead, Professor Takeuchi says, by carefully designing the tiny holes, it’s possible to stick the skin to essentially any shaped surface.
The science behind human skin for robots
The “artificial skin tissue” is made by taking samples of human skin cells and growing them in a lab.
Most of the human skin used to harvest these cells comes from excess skin removed during surgery.
To help the lab-grown skin layers adhere, the team drilled special holes in the robot’s face and applied a proprietary collagen gel to it.
By carefully designing the small openings, the skin can be applied to almost any shaped surface.
A special collagen gel with natural adhesive properties is used for adhesion.
The researchers used a plasma treatment to place this collagen into the microstructure of the perforations while holding the skin close to the surface in question.
“Manipulating soft, moist biological tissues during development is much more difficult than people outside this field would think,” said Professor Takeuchi.
“For example, if sterile conditions are not maintained, bacteria will get in and tissue will die.
“But now that this is possible, living skin can give robots a range of new capabilities.
“Self-repair is a big problem. Some chemical-based materials can be made to repair themselves, but they need a trigger like heat, pressure or other signals, and they can’t grow like cells.
Professor Takeuchi and his team hope that this groundbreaking feat will contribute to medical treatment.
Something like a face chip could be useful for studying skin aging, cosmetics, surgery, and more.
Professor Takeuchi says that embedded sensors would give the robot better environmental awareness and enable it to move around more easily.
“In this research, we were able to replicate a human appearance to some extent by creating a face with the same surface material and structure as a human,” he said.
“Furthermore, through this research, we have identified new challenges, such as the need for surface wrinkles and a thicker cuticle to achieve a more human-like appearance.”
“It will be extremely challenging to create robots that can self-heal, sense their surroundings more accurately and perform tasks with human-like dexterity,” Professor Takeuchi added.