Articulated robotic finger covered with living skin tissue that can heal itself with the help of a collagen bandage is seen in Tokyo, Japan, Biohybrid Systems Laboratory (Takeuchi), University of Tokyo / Handout via REUTERS
Action heroes or villain killers, biohybrid robots made from organic and man-made materials have fueled science fiction fantasies forever. Now, thanks to the scientists, robots with human skin are a closer possibility.
An article published in subject magazine reports a new material similar to human skin that was developed by a team of researchers from the University of Tokyo (Japan).
Furthermore, the material, with which they covered the finger of a robot, It is water repellent and self-healing.
A Japanese robot serves food in a restaurant in Thailand in 2021. EFE / EPA / NARONG SANGNAK
The finger test
“The finger has a slightly ‘sweaty’ look right after it comes out of the crop,” says Shoji Takeuchi of the University of Tokyo.
Looking “real” is a top priority of humanoid robots designed to interact with humans in areas such as health and services.
So far, the closest thing to human skin that has been produced is the silicone skin with which one tries to give robots a human look but the material is not up to par when one wants to copy delicate textures such as wrinkles or specific functions of the skin.
So far, attempts to make live skin sheets to cover robots have also had little success, as they are difficult to adapt to dynamic objects with uneven surfaces.
To make the skin, the team first dipped the robotic finger into a filled cylinder a solution of collagen and human dermal fibroblaststhe two main components that make up the connective tissues of the skin.
Japan is one of the countries where robotics is most advanced. EFE / Frank Robichon file
The contraction of this mixture of collagen and fibroblasts shrinks and conforms to the finger and, like an imprint, this layer provides a uniform base that facilitates the adhesion of the next layer of cells, the human epidermal keratinocytes.
These cells make up 90% of the outermost layer of the skin, which gives the robot a texture similar to real skin.
In addition, the skin created had enough strength and elasticity to support the dynamic movements of the robotic finger as it curved and stretched, and the outermost layer was thick enough to be lifted with tweezers and repelled water.
when injured, the skin could also self-regenerate like that of humans with the help of a collagen bandagewhich gradually turned into skin and underwent repeated movements of the joints.
“We are amazed at how well the skin tissue fits the surface of the robot. This job is right the first step towards creating robots covered in living skinTakeuchi advances.
Currently, this skin is much weaker than natural skin and cannot survive for long without constant nutrient supply and waste removal, but Takeuchi and his team have already announced that they will solve these problems and incorporate more sophisticated structures such as sensory neurons, hair follicles, nails and sweat glands.
“I think living skin is the ultimate solution to give robots the look and feel of living things, as it’s the exact same material that covers animal bodies,” says Takeuchi.
EFE
Source: Clarin
