According to the scientists, the skin is not only soft but can repair itself if damaged, by copying human skin ligaments.
The team had previously attempted to use mini-hooks as anchors but they ripped the experimental skin when the robot moved.
To recreate the stretchy ligaments in human skin, they drilled small holes into the robot’s face and used a collagen gel to secure the lab-engineered skin on top.
Prof Shoji Takeuchi, the lead researcher, said: “By mimicking human skin-ligament structures and by using specially made V-shaped perforations in solid materials, we found a way to bind skin to complex structures.
“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.”