Researchers from the University of Tokyo developed a lab-grown skin made from living human cells and applied it to robotic faces.

This synthetic skin is composed of cultured human fibroblasts and collagen, mimicking the mechanical and biological properties of real human skin.

What makes this innovation exceptional is its ability to self-heal when damaged and move dynamically, allowing facial expressions like smiling.

Key features:

Biocompatibility: Made from human dermal cells, it integrates well with robotic substrates.

Self-Healing: Like real skin, it can heal small cuts with collagen gels.

Expressive Flexibility: Capable of stretching and moving with robotic actuators for expressions like smiling.

Applications: Human-like androids, prosthetics, and advanced medical simulation.

This breakthrough represents a major step in building emotionally responsive and biologically integrated robots.

Sources:

- University of Tokyo Research Release (2024)
- ScienceAlert Coverage
- Nature & ScienceDaily Reports