Faces made of living skin make robots smile

“By mimicking human skin-ligament structures and by using specially made V-shaped perforations in solid materials, we found a way to bind skin to complex structures,” lead researcher Prof Shoji Takeuchi said.

“The natural flexibility of the skin and the strong method of adhesion mean the skin can move with the mechanical components of the robot, without tearing or peeling away.”

The latest results are published in the journal Cell Reports Physical Science, external.

It will take many more years of testing for the technology to become an everyday reality, the researchers say.

“Another important challenge is creating human-like expressions by integrating sophisticated actuators, or muscles, inside the robot,” Prof Takeuchi said.

But the work may also be useful in research into skin ageing, cosmetics and surgical procedures, including plastic surgery.