Russian firm opening centre for artificial robot skin to make them ‘aesthetically appealing’

A Russian manufacturer is opening a specialised laboratory to create artificial skin for its life-like robots.

Promobot is establishing a research and development centre in the country’s eastern city of Vladivostock, where it will be working on its humanoid robots Robo-C.

“Our most important task now is to advance humanoid robots and make them as aesthetically appealing as they are functional”, said office spokesman Ruslan Sarkison,

“We have all of the resources to do that, so we’re way on our way to a significant leap in this new exciting technology.”

The new centre will be home to 3-D modelling of the robots, work on polymers in a laboratory and the manufacture of the artificial skin itself.

There are several stages to creating the robot’s appearance, with multiple skin layers placed on top of each other.

As a result, even the most complicated appearances can be recreated digitally with the use of facial hair, eye form, and pores as well.

The first-ever person to lend their appearance for Robo-C was the company’s chairman.

Production of metal frames, hardware and software for Robo-C will continue in Promobot’s Perm-based offices.

The firm, founded in 2015, is the the largest manufacturer of autonomous robots in Northern and Easter Europe.

Its robots are already being employed as tour guides, concierges and assistants in places such as the Museum of Contemporary Russian History, Sberbank, Baltimore/Washington International Airport and Dubai Mall.

The company hopes its new Vladivostock office will also provide opportunities for it in Asia.

Alex Yuzhakov, Promobot chairman said: “In the entire robotics market, there are just two manufacturers of humanoid service robots.

“We have to open new locations and spread our experience across new regions.”

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