Japanese engineers are creating robots capable of mimicking human emotions, particularly smiles. Using human skin cells, they've crafted masks that allow robots to exhibit flexible facial expressions

With elastic and durable skin designed to protect the machinery underneath, this innovation aims to provide robots with a more human-like appearance. According to research findings, this skin, made from live cells, can experience scarring, burning, and even self-healing.  While current prototypes cannot sense touch or temperature, researchers aim to mimic human skin more accurately by incorporating blood vessels, neurons, and other components. Achieving this goal will require further study and development.

The research holds significance as industries increasingly adopt robots. Globally, an estimated 3.9 million industrial robots are anticipated to be deployed, with many designed for operation in human-centered environments such as manufacturing, healthcare, and education. There's a growing trend towards humanoid robots in these sectors.