A team of researchers from the University of Tokyo (Japan) published the study on June 25 in the journal Cell Reports Physical Science along with a video showing the robot with pink skin stretched into a strange smile.

To create a natural smile, scientists gelatinized skin-like tissue and fixed it into the robot's holes, a method inspired by human skin ligaments.

Biorobotics experts hope that this technology will one day play a role in the invention of robots with human-like appearance and abilities.

“We hope this will help shed more light on wrinkle formation and the physiology of facial expressions,” the research team led by Professor Shoji Takeuchi stressed, and also aid in the development of implants and cosmetics.

The new material has the potential to give humanoid robots realistic-looking skin. Currently, the skin of these robots is often made of silicone rubber, which cannot sweat or heal itself.

Scientists' goal is to equip robots with the self-healing abilities inherent in biological skin, but they're not there yet.

Ha Linh/Tin Tuc Newspaper