Robots keep getting creepier

Other techniques, which require mini anchors or hooks, are often limited by the types of surfaces that can be used and could be damaged, the researchers said.

However, by using a “special collagen gel for adhesion,” researchers were able to apply the skin to any surface, even curving or moving ones — like a smiling robot.

“The natural flexibility of the skin and the strong method of adhesion mean the skin can move with the mechanical components of the robot without tearing or peeling away,” Takeuchi said.

The team also hopes to create a thicker and more realistic skin by “incorporating sweat glands, sebaceous glands, pores, blood vessels, fat and nerves.” Takeuchi said that creating humanlike expressions is another significant challenge they hope to tackle by incorporating actuators, which would act as muscles, into the robots.

This is just the latest development in humanoid robotics, which, sometimes disconcertingly, feature designs that mimic the look or functionality of people — sometimes falling into the uncanny valley.

Tesla is in the works of developing its Optimus robot, which CEO Elon Musk hopes people will regard “sort of as a friend.” Other bots operate on all fours, like Boston Dynamic’s four-legged robotic police dog.

While you probably don’t have to worry about seeing living skin on a production robot anytime soon, the University of Tokyo researchers have at least proven that it’s possible — even if that means a bit of nightmare fuel for the rest of us along the way.