Japanese scientists have developed a “slightly sweaty” robotic finger covered with living skin, claiming that it really brings human robots one step closer.
The finger, which has been shown to be self-healing, is seen as an impressive technical achievement that blurs the line between living flesh and machine. But scientists were divided over whether people would agree with his realistic anatomy or find it scary.
“We are amazed at how well the skin tissue matches the surface of the robot,” said Shoji Takeuchi, a professor at the University of Tokyo who is in charge of the work. “But this work is only the first step towards creating robots covered with living skin.”
The team argues that more realistic humanoids could interact with humans more naturally in a number of roles, including in nursing and the service industry.
“I think living skin is the best solution to give robots the look and feel of living things, because it’s exactly the same material that covers animal bodies,” Takeuchi said. He added that such progress has the potential to “build a new connection between humans and robots”.
The human appearance of mechanical soil can cause a feeling of disgust, known as the “amazing valley” effect, experts say. Photo: Shoji Takeuchi
Scientists have previously produced skin grafts – sheets of skin that can be sutured together in reconstructive surgery, for example – but have struggled to create living skin on three-dimensional, dynamic objects.
In their latest work, the team for the first time immerses the robotic finger in a cylinder filled with a solution of collagen and human dermal fibroblasts, the two main components that make up the connective tissue of the skin. They cover the surface as a primer, providing a seamless layer for the next layer of cells – human epidermal keratinocytes – to adhere to. Bending the finger back and forth causes the appearance of natural-looking wrinkles on the knuckles and in case of injury, the made skin can heal itself like human skin with the help of a collagen bandage and according to scientists it feels like normal skin.
The finger is in the process of working: its skin is much weaker than genuine leather and must be kept moist, because without the circulatory system, the cells would die if they dried out. His movements are also clearly mechanical.
“The finger looks a little sweaty right out of the cultural environment,” Takeuchi said. “Because the finger is powered by an electric motor, it’s also interesting to hear the clicking sounds of the motor in harmony with a finger that looks just as real.”
However, experts say that this combination of very realistic and mechanical can cause a feeling of disgust, known as the “incredible valley” effect.
Dr Burcu Jürgen of Bilkent University in Ankara, Turkey, said: “It looks like a human-like appearance [of some robots] raises certain expectations, but when they do not meet those expectations, they are found to be sinister or frightening. ”
Professor Fabian Grabenhorst, a neurologist at Oxford University who also studies the so-called amazing valley effect, said: “It looks like a fantastic technological innovation.
He agreed that humans may have an initial negative reaction to a mixture of humans and robots, but said research shows that this response may change depending on interactions with the robot. “Initially, people may find it strange, but through positive experiences that can help people overcome these feelings.
The team now plans to include more complex functional structures in the skin, such as sensory neurons, hair follicles, nails and sweat glands. They also work on a robotic leather-covered face. Progress is described in Matter magazine.
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