Many scifi robots have taken the form of their creators. In the increasingly blurry space between the biological and the mechanical, researchers have found a way to affix human skin to robot faces. [via NewScientist]
Previous attempts at affixing skin equivalent, “a living skin model composed of cells and extracellular matrix,” to robots worked, even on moving parts like fingers, but typically relied on protrusions that impinged on range of motion and aesthetic concerns, which are pretty high on the list for robots designed to predominantly interact with humans. Inspired by skin ligaments, the researchers have developed “perforation-type anchors” that use v-shaped holes in the underlying 3D printed surface to keep the skin equivalent taut and pliable like the real thing.
The researchers then designed a face that took advantage of the attachment method to allow their robot to have a convincing smile. Combined with other research, robots might soon have skin with touch, sweat, and self-repair capabilities like Data’s partial transformation in Star Trek: First Contact.
We wonder what this extremely realistic humanoid hand might look like with this skin on the outside. Of course that raises the question of if we even need humanoid robots? If you want something less uncanny, maybe try animating your stuffed animals with this robotic skin instead?
Fembots from the Six Million Dollar Man.
Fembots from Austin Powers…..watch out for their jomblies….
So, I get the desire to create realistic prosthetics. But this just feels more performative work rather than responding to an actual societal need. I mean, yes, a lost limb that looks and feels like living skin makes sense. But what real demand is there for a robot face with human skin? I mean, who needs that other than performance artists and agitprop creators?
… If there’s a hyperalloy combat chassis underneath the living tissue, I’m outta here. /silly :)
Unless it is Summer Glau.
I remember the first time I saw that yellow smiley face on some insurance mail back in the 60’s. I said, that’s ugly. Here we go again. I’ll have my egg sunny side up.
Anyone not creeped out by this pre-Cyberdyne Model 101 ?
Yep!
im more creeped out by more likely potential use for this thing. pleasurebots.
Yep …
It’s just turned the uncanny valley into the valley of the shadow of death.
kill it, kill it with fire
Next, incorporate IR detecting mouse hair for eyebrows.
“The 600 series had rubber skin. We spotted them easy, but these are new. They look human — sweat, bad breath, everything. Very hard to spot.”
Odd….I showed the picture to my dog and he started barking….
XD
Do you want Terminators? Because that’s how you get Terminators…
I wonder what ‘errand’ I’d send my terminator to.
What’s that, Psychrolutes microporos run over by a car?
I think the motivation for this kind of attention-seeking research and reporting is basically the same motivation behind releasing a korn or marilyn manson album
would be useful at gwar shows though. so when they rip the heads off celebrity effigies they could do so with a gore factor you just cant get with molded latex (actually some of the props they use are probably worthy of a hack-a-day article).
I may not care for him as a person, but through a musician’s lens Manson is extremely talented.
The whole showmanship thing cranked to 11 and turned into a sideshow is just to bring in the disaffected.
Quite a few of his tracks are covered (ayooo) in the music classes at nearby universities. The composition and movement of his albums are very well done, even if you aren’t into that kind of music.
Combine this with the “POWERING BIOLOGY WITH BATTERIES” article from the 21st…
Yikes.
That pink abomination looks like Mrs. Doubtfire’s face after it got run over by a garbage truck.
And the one on the left has a serious case of jaundice!
True indeed!
I HAVE NO MOUTH, AND I MUST SCREAM
Hey look, a Zuck !
ewwww
not just “uncanny valley” but
entire uncanny countryside
I guess my imagination is failing me here.
What ‘problem’ does this actually solve?
I mean, we ALL know what the first commercially viable use for “living skin on a robot frame”is going to be. But this doesn’t even seem like it leads to an “adult toy”.