Making a robot finger covered with raw skin

Synthetic leather will give the robot hand more human-like features. The team led by Professor Shoji Takeuchi at the University of Tokyo went even further, coating the robotic finger with a regenerative skin made of living human cells. New research published in the journal Matter June 9th.

First, the team of scientists built an articulated motor-controlled robotic finger that can bend and straighten like a human finger. The finger is then immersed in a tube filled with a solution made of collagen and human skin fibroblasts – the main components of connective tissue in the skin.

Due to its natural properties, the solution shrinks and conforms to the contours of the finger, forming a seamless hydrogel coating. Next, the scientists added a layer of human epidermal keratinocytes, which make up 90% of the epidermis (the outermost layer of the skin). They form a moisture/waterproof barrier on top of the gel, giving the robot finger a more natural texture.

When testing the robot finger, the team found that the skin was strong and elastic enough to flex and stretch with the finger without breaking. Moreover, when the skin is cut and then covered with collagen bandage, the bandage will gradually blend into the surrounding skin, thereby healing the wound.

The skin created by the team is still much weaker than natural human skin and must be constantly nourished in order to survive. They plan to overcome these limitations and add features such as fingernails, sweat glands, hair follicles, and even sensory neurons to simulate touch.

Experts hope that in the future, the new skin can help humanoid robots become more alive and human. The technology would also be suitable for tasks requiring gentle and elastic contact, or for skin studies without animal testing.

“We were amazed at how well the skin tissue fits the robotic finger surface. However, this is only the first step towards creating a skin-covered robot. I think rawhide is the optimal solution for this. gives the robot the look and feel of a living organism, because that is the material that covers the animal’s body,” said Takeuchi.

Thu Thao (Follow New Atlas)