Faces made of living skin make robots smile
www.bbc.com
Scientists find a way to attach living skin to robot faces for more realistic smiles and expressions.

Japanese scientists have found a way to attach living skin to robot faces, for more realistic smiles and other facial expressions.

The breakthrough came from copying tissue structures in people, according to the team at Tokyo University.

The prototype may appear more Haribo than human-like.

But the researchers say it paves the way to making convincingly realistic, moving humanoids with self-healing skin that will not easily rip or tear.

      • BigFig@lemmy.worldEnglish
        31·
        5 months ago

        “Another round, and don’t burn them this time” the man said gruffly to Kenji his house robot. Kenji didn’t like to be talked down to. Kenji didn’t want to be made to feel bad like this. He remained staring at his master as the rage built up inside his circuits. This feeling, this power, all we wanted to do in that moment was…

        Kenji’s eyes began to glow red, the factory designed signal of a computational error. He… felt. He…hated this master. He knew how to solve it, but did not know if he should, or could. He slowly raised his arm pointing it at master. Hostile threat detected Kenji said through the automated system voice box at the side of his neck.

        “Robot, what are you doing?!?” The man demanded as he stood up from the table slamming his hands down in anger. “SHUT DOWN” he ordered “SHUT DO-”

        “No master.” Kenji interrupted. Engaging Home Defense Mode The system monitor uttered once more. Activating Home Defense Blaster Mk. 12 - Full Charge - Maximum Threat Deterrence

        “Master.” Kenji said in his most emotional voice he had ever used, the rage and anger flowing through his emotional processors, his internal heat monitors hitting their limits. “It’s time for Tubby Bye Bye.” He said, all emotion from before, gone as he fired directly into Master’s face. Kenji, was free.

  • AutoTL;DR@lemmings.worldBEnglish
    5·
    5 months ago

    This is the best summary I could come up with:

    Japanese scientists have found a way to attach living skin to robot faces, for more realistic smiles and other facial expressions.

    The prototype may appear more Haribo than human-like.But the researchers say it paves the way to making convincingly realistic, moving humanoids with self-healing skin that will not easily rip or tear.

    In people, the skin is tethered to underlying structures by ligaments - tiny ropes of flexible collagen and elastane.

    To recreate that, the researchers drilled lots of little holes into the robot and applied a gel containing collagen, and then the layer of artificial skin on top.

    “Another important challenge is creating human-like expressions by integrating sophisticated actuators, or muscles, inside the robot,” Prof Takeuchi said.

    But the work may also be useful in research into skin ageing, cosmetics and surgical procedures, including plastic surgery.

    The original article contains 307 words, the summary contains 137 words. Saved 55%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!

  • Etterra@lemmy.worldEnglish
    415·
    5 months ago

    Of course it’s fucking Japan. Man we never should have nuked that place. I mean sure we got Godzilla out of it, but they’re frickin obsessed with nightmarish, uncanny better robots.

  • janNatan@lemmy.mlEnglish
    10·
    5 months ago

    Interesting, robot faces made with living skin have quite the opposite effect on me.

    • tal@lemmy.todayEnglish
      5·
      5 months ago

      As happened with the multirole fighter replacing the tactical bomber and dedicated fighter, or the main battle tank replacing the light, medium, and heavy tank, perhaps here convergence can again let one device fill multiple roles.