3D Robot Face With Living Skin Is the Next Level in Robotics

The first robot was developed in 1956 and today it is hard to imagine our lives without them. Whether industrial robots on the factory floor or service robots in the living room, such as roombas, they make many things easier for us. However, so far, robots have shown little resemblance to humans. This could soon change thanks to new advances in tissue research and with the help of 3D printing.

At the University of Tokyo, under the direction of Professor Shoji Takeuchi, artificially cultivated skin tissue was attached to robotic faces using 3D-printed perforation anchors. The cultivated skin, inspired by human skin bands, consists of living cells and has the ability to heal itself. To attach the skin to the surface, a perforation-like, V-shaped anchor was integrated into the robot head, providing both high strength and flexibility. The small perforations make it easier to attach the skin to the surface.

3D printing and applying the living skin to the 3D robotic face (photo credits: Takeuchi et al)

The V-shaped holes and the robot head were produced using the AGLISTA-3100 3D printer from Keyence, a Japanese company. The printer used material jetting technology, in which UV light-sensitive resin hardens and eventually forms the 3D object. This technology was chosen because it enables precise and reliable printing.