Incredible Breakthrough Robots with Lifelike and Self-Repairing Skin
TapTechNews, June 26. In the future, robots may have life-like and self-repairing skin. This skin repairs in a similar way to the healing process of human skin.
The research results were published in the journal Cell Reports Physical Science on June 25. Researchers said this new type of skin appears more realistic not only because it can self-repair damages (such as cuts or abrasions), but also the way it adheres to the robot's skeleton.
For a long time, it has been believed that artificial skin can make robots look more like humans and more realistic than synthetic materials (such as latex). But without an appropriate bonding method, the artificial skin will sag and fall off the robot's frame in a visually disturbing way.
In the past, robot researchers tried to use anchors (hook-shaped or mushroom-shaped structures) to attach the artificial skin to the metal frame to solve the sagging problem. Although this method can prevent the skin from moving on the robot frame, the bonding structure will protrude and form lumps under the skin, affecting the degree of realism.
In this new research, the researchers pioneered a new method, that is, drilling tiny holes in the robot's skeleton, and the artificially cultured skin can extend V-shaped hooks (called perforated anchors) into these holes. This way the artificial skin can adhere to the robot while maintaining a smooth and flexible surface.
The artificial skin is covered on a robot treated with water vapor plasma, which makes the robot surface hydrophilic. This means that the cultured skin gel will be pulled deeper into the holes and thus adhere more tightly to the robot surface.
The research team said one of the main advantages of this new type of skin is that it allows robots to work side by side with humans without excessive wear and tear. Small tears or similar damages can be repaired through the skin's self-repair function without the need for manual repair. However, they did not measure the speed at which the artificial skin self-repairs after being damaged.
In one demonstration, the researchers reconstructed the way the skin changes when a human smiles. By connecting a layer of slidable silicone between the artificial skin and the robot face, when the muscles tighten and cause the skin to bulge on both sides of the mouth corner, a smile effect appears. Thanks to the perforated anchors, the skin can fit seamlessly to the three-dimensional model of the face without any protruding bolts or hooks.
TapTechNews noted that the researchers also compared artificial skins with and without perforated anchors. On the surface without anchors, the skin shrank by 84.5% within 7 days, while on the surface with 1-millimeter anchors, it shrank by 33.6%. The contraction of the robot skin will separate the skin from its inner frame, damaging its realism and potentially damaging the skin layer. The skin on the surface with 3-millimeter and 5-millimeter anchors can maintain its shape for a longer time, shrinking by 26.4% and 32.2% respectively.
One of the research participants, researcher Shoji Takeuchi from the Institute of Industrial Science (IIS) at the University of Tokyo, told LiveScience that before robots use their team's method to install skin, some steps still need to be taken.
He said: First, we need to improve the durability and life of the cultured skin when applied to robots, especially addressing issues related to nutrition and moisture supply. This may involve developing an integrated vascular or other perfusion system within the skin. Secondly, it is crucial to improve the mechanical strength of the skin to match the strength of natural human skin. This requires optimizing the collagen structure and concentration within the cultured skin.
Takeuchi also pointed out that to truly function, the artificial skin will eventually need to convey sensor information such as temperature and touch to the robot using it and be able to resist biological contamination.