Are we almost at the time that it will be challenging to distinguish robots from humans? It seems like we're on the way there.
Scientists at the University of Tokyo in Japan conducted a study that made robots more human-like by bathing a plastic robot in a soup of collage and human skin cells for three days. What happened, then?
It worked. The collagen and fibroblasts adhered to the robot's skin and formed a layer similar to the dermis, the second layer of human skin.
However, it didn't stop there.
Following the formation of the dermis from the collagen and fibroblast solution, the scientists then poured human skin cells, which are called keratinocytes onto the finger to make the epidermis, the upper layer of the human skin.
Also Read: Japanese Researchers Create 'Sixth Finger' Robot: Here's Why
The Results
The whole thing resulted in 1.5 millimeter-thick skin that can stretch and contract as the finger is bent backward and forward. It also wrinkles like normal skin.
The scientists also tried to cut and heal the skin afterward. They were able to heal it by grafting a collagen sheer onto the wound. However, the skin started to dry out after a while because it didn't have blood vessels to replenish it with moisture.
This then becomes a plan for the future-to incorporate artificial blood vessels into the skin that will keep it hydrated. Scientists also plan to add sweat glands and hair follicles to it to make it even more realistic.
In the future (considering these latest developments and plans), it will also be possible to make different skin colors by adding melanocytes.
For now, the scientists plan to coat the whole robot in living skin. Still, the scientists are cautious about this because even though robots can live among humans, and humans have already accepted the idea of that, they still need to consider the risks and benefits when they make the robot too realistic.
This study shows that robots can have more human-like skin, instead of the usual, plastic silicone, which can't repair itself should it rip.
According to Shoji Takeuchi, the lead scientist, "Our goal is to develop robots that are truly human-like. We think that the only way to achieve an appearance that can be mistaken for a human being is to cover it with the same material as human beings: living cells."
Indeed, the idea of making robots as human-like as possible seems like dystopia, but it's really a goal for those who are in the robotics industry. It's also not only about making them more relatable, but it will also help them carry out their tasks more efficiently and safely.
Related Article: A Robot That Can 'Think' Has Just Been Created--Here Are The Implications
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Written by April Fowell
