https://www.iotworldtoday.com/wp-content/themes/ioti_child/assets/images/logo/IoTWorldToday-mobile-logo.png
  • Home
  • News
    • Back
    • Roundups
  • Strategy
  • Special Reports
  • Business Resources
    • Back
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
    • Industry Perspectives
    • Featured Vendors
  • Other Content
    • Back
    • Q&As
    • Case Studies
    • Features
    • How-to
    • Opinion
    • Podcasts
    • Strategic Partners
    • Latest videos
  • More
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact
    • Advertise
    • Editorial Submissions
  • Events
Iot World Today
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Home
  • News
    • Back
    • Roundups
  • Strategy
  • Special Reports
  • Business Resources
    • Back
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
    • Industry Perspectives
    • Featured Vendors
  • Other Content
    • Back
    • Q&As
    • Case Studies
    • Features
    • How-to
    • Opinion
    • Podcasts
    • Strategic Partners
    • Latest videos
  • More
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact
    • Advertise
    • Editorial Submissions
  • Events
  • newsletter
  • IIoT
  • Cities
  • Energy
  • Homes/Buildings
  • Transportation/Logistics
  • Connected Health Care
  • Retail
  • AI
  • Metaverse
  • Development
  • Security
ioti.com

Connected Health Care


University of Tokyo robotic skin

Researchers Develop Living Skin for Robots 

Made from real human skin cells, the material has self-healing capabilities and is a major step forward for humanoid robotics
  • Written by Scarlett Evans
  • 14th June 2022

A team of scientists from the University of Tokyo has developed a skin-equivalent coating for robotic limbs, with the resulting tissue-engineered material boasting water-repellant and self-healing properties. 

The team cultured human skin cells around a three-joint robotic finger to create the coating, submerging the appendage in a solution of collagen and human dermal fibroblasts to form a foundation layer on which an additional coat of human epidermal cells adhered to. By using real human cells, the team was able to create a material that looks and feels entirely humanoid, and which has the moisture-retaining and self-healing properties of human skin.

The crafted skin was found to withstand a variety of movements and can self-heal with the help of a collagen bandage, with the skin gradually merging with the bandage over the course of a week. 

Attempts to make a skin alternative have had varying success over the years, with challenges encountered in fitting it to uneven surfaces and making it sensitive and realistic enough for tasks in the health care and service industries. The team from Japan tookn a different approach in allowing the skin to grow around the bot, avoiding the common issue of fitting a material around a robot. 

“To efficiently cover surfaces with skin cells, we established a tissue molding method to directly mold skin tissue around the robot, which resulted in a seamless skin coverage on a robotic finger,” said Shoji Takeuchi, a professor at the University of Tokyo. 

The method was presented in June in the journal Matter and, according to the team, is only the first step in the wider mission to cover entire robots with skin. While the material has great success in adhering to the robotic finger’s surface, it requires near-constant nutrient supply – meaning it needs to be submerged in a mixture of sugar and amino acids. Giving the skin a longer life cycle is therefore a priority, while Takeuchi also said the team will also be looking to add other humanoid features to the skin such as hair follicles, nails and sweat glands. 

Though the team may be in the early stages of its journey, Takeuchi believes his team’s offering is the “ultimate solution” to making bots look and act like real living beings. 

Tags: IoT platforms IT/OT integration robotics robotic skin robotic materials University of Tokyo Connected Health Care News

Related Content


  • Crab micro-robot
    Robotic Crab is Smallest Walking Bot Ever
    The miniature bot uses shape memory alloys and has potentially groundbreaking applications in the health and manufacturing sectors
  • Caltech campus
    Robots Could Gain Sense of Touch, With New Artificial Skin
    New design can help businesses determine the presence of hazardous materials, offer greater safety for workers
  • Image shows fire flame in black background
    Researchers Developing Smart Robots for Hazardous Environments
    Anticipated use cases include decommissioned power stations and nuclear facilities
  • Image shows welding robots at a car factory
    Nvidia, Ready Robotics Partner to Accelerate Industrial Automation
    The collaboration comes a year after they first announced their partnership

Leave a comment Cancel reply

-or-

Log in with your IoT World Today account

Alternatively, post a comment by completing the form below:

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Latest News

  • FDA Clears Robotic Exoskeleton for Multiple Sclerosis Patients
  • Researchers Create 3D Printing Process for Robotic Materials
  • AI Summit 2022: Health Care AI Group Wins Into the Den Competition
  • Vayyar Hardware Teardown
    Imaging Sensor Startup Secures $108M for 4D Imaging Pipeline

Roundups

View all

IoT Product Roundup: Canonical, InfluxData, Wiliot and More

23rd June 2022

IoT Product Roundup: Cisco, Telit, Draganfly and More

9th June 2022

IoT Deals, Partnerships Roundup: Google, Arm, Senet and More

26th May 2022

White Papers

View all

The Role of Manufacturing Technology in Continuous Improvement Ebook

6th April 2022

IIoT Platform Trends for Manufacturing in 2022

6th April 2022

Latest Videos

View all
Image shows Unilever's Alberto Prado at AI Summit 2022 in London

AI Summit 2022: Unilever’s Alberto Prado

Prado talks about how Unilever is using AI to accelerate the speed of new discoveries and gives them access to more breakthrough innovation

Image Shows John Lewis' Barry Panai at AI Summit London 2022

AI Summit 2022: John Lewis’ Barry Panayi on AI in Retail

Panayi talks about data and AI in retail and how individuals and the technology can work together

E-books

View all

How Remote Access Helps Enterprises Improve IT Service and Employee Satisfaction

12th January 2022

An Integrated Approach to IoT Security

6th November 2020

Webinars

View all

Rethinking the Database in the IoT Era

18th May 2022

Jumpstarting Industrial IoT solutions with an edge data management platform

12th May 2022

AI led Digital Transformation of Manufacturing: Time is NOW

9th December 2021

Special Reports

View all

Omdia’s Smart Home Market Dynamics Report

7th January 2022

Cybersecurity Protection Increasingly Depends on Machine Learning

28th October 2020

IoT Security Best Practices for Industry and Enterprise

20th October 2020

Twitter

IoTWorldToday, IoTWorldSeries

🤔 Looking for 3 Strategies to Avoid IoT Key Theft? We’ve got you covered! As tech companies continue to develop an… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

5th July 2022
IoTWorldToday, IoTWorldSeries

AI Summit 2022: Unilever’s Alberto Prado dlvr.it/STMpRN https://t.co/1dyLREr8N6

5th July 2022
IoTWorldToday, IoTWorldSeries

Seoul Robotics Expands 3D Perception Platform across South America dlvr.it/STMhSV https://t.co/a10l3Eb2Kn

5th July 2022
IoTWorldToday, IoTWorldSeries

Microsoft Extends Secured-Core Program to IoT Devices dlvr.it/STMg4k https://t.co/laBPF5VjC4

5th July 2022
IoTWorldToday, IoTWorldSeries

Spot the Robot Dog Helps Police Ahead of Boston’s Fourth of July Celebration dlvr.it/STKWjb https://t.co/LdRg7a2xqU

4th July 2022
IoTWorldToday, IoTWorldSeries

Another 59,000 @Teslas being recalled over a software glitch affecting the vehicle’s Emergency Call safety system… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

4th July 2022
IoTWorldToday, IoTWorldSeries

Join us in the premier #tech destination of #Austin this November 2-3 for our next #IoT event. Connect and collabo… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

4th July 2022
IoTWorldToday, IoTWorldSeries

SoftBank, May Mobility Team on Autonomous Driving dlvr.it/STJrW0 https://t.co/mOYoBsgs14

4th July 2022

Newsletter

Sign up for IoT World Today newsletters: vertical industry coverage on Tuesdays and horizontal tech coverage on Thursdays.

Special Reports

Our Special Reports take an in-depth look at key topics within the IoT space. Download our latest reports.

Business Resources

Find the latest white papers and other resources from selected vendors.

Media Kit and Advertising

Want to reach our audience? Access our media kit.

DISCOVER MORE FROM INFORMA TECH

  • IoT World Series
  • Channel Futures
  • RISC-V
  • Dark Reading
  • ITPro Today
  • Web Hosting Talk

WORKING WITH US

  • Contact
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Login/Register

FOLLOW IoT World Today ON SOCIAL

  • Privacy
  • CCPA: “Do Not Sell My Data”
  • Cookies Policy
  • Terms
Copyright © 2022 Informa PLC. Informa PLC is registered in England and Wales with company number 8860726 whose registered and Head office is 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.
This website uses cookies, including third party ones, to allow for analysis of how people use our website in order to improve your experience and our services. By continuing to use our website, you agree to the use of such cookies. Click here for more information on our Cookie Policy and Privacy Policy.
X