Japanese scientists graft living skin onto ‘smiling’ robot

Japanese scientists hope their breakthrough will enable more 'lifelike and interactive robotic applications' in the future [Courtesy of the University of Tokyo]

Tokyo, Japan – Japanese scientists have developed a technique to attach self-healing, living skin to a robot face and make it “smile”.

The scientists, led by professor Shoji Takeuchi at the University of Tokyo’s Biohybrid Systems Laboratory, connected cultured skin tissue in the likeness of a human face to an actuator – an external mechanical device – using “anchors” that mimic skin ligaments.