Home > Published Issues > 2024 > Volume 13, No. 2, 2024 >
IJMERR 2024 Vol.13(2): 213-218
doi: 10.18178/ijmerr.13.2.213-218

Fabrication of Artificial Skin for Robotic Head Based on Silicone Rubber

Nguyen Minh Trieu and Nguyen Truong Thinh *
Institute of Intelligent and Interactive Technologies, University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City—UEH, Vietnam
Email: trieunm@ueh.edu.vn (N.M.T.); thinhnt@ueh.edu.vn (N.T.T.)
*Corresponding author

Manuscript received June 8, 2023; revised September 22, 2023; accepted November 5, 2023; published March 15, 2024.

Abstract—In this study, artificial skin based on silicone rubber is introduced for a robot head of the same size and shape as an actual person. The artificial skin is described from designing to molding the skin for a robot head, which mimics a young woman’s head. Fabricated skin is different from regular masks because it has to cover the core mechanical systems and move together. Skin movements create emotions on the face and give the appearance of a robot head. The robot has the same expressive and oral capabilities as humans and is integrated with artificial intelligence platforms. The knowledge of head anatomy and the parameters of the operation of the head will be applied in the design and fabrication of core mechanical mechanisms and their covering skin. This study analyses the basic knowledge of skin anatomy as well as the fabricating steps to make artificial skin made of silicone rubber material. The knowledge of skin anatomy is the foundation to study and analyze the general characteristics of human skin such as elasticity, color, elasticity, etc. Manufacturing methods for artificial skin are researched and selected accordingly. Finally, the artificial skin is created to make the robot head’s expression more realistic. Experimental results showed that the robot meets design requirements, has an 89.83% accuracy rate of human identification of robot expressions, and is highly appreciated by users in interactive experiments.

Keywords—artificial skin, anatomy, mold, silicone rubber

Cite: Nguyen Minh Trieu and Nguyen Truong Thinh, "Fabrication of Artificial Skin for Robotic Head Based on Silicone Rubber," International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Robotics Research, Vol. 13, No. 2, pp. 213-218, 2024.

Copyright © 2024 by the authors. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0), which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided that the article is properly cited, the use is non-commercial and no modifications or adaptations are made.