Electronic Skin for Humanoid Robots

Ex-Robots, based in Dalian, manufactures bionic humanoid faces with electronic skin that produces natural-looking expressions — smiling, frowning, surprise, concentration. At the 2025 China Hi-Tech Fair in Shenzhen, a singing robot surrounded by crowds demonstrated expression-synced performance.

The technology uses multi-layer silicone faces with embedded actuators that replicate the muscle movements of human facial expressions. Combined with AI speech and emotion models, the robots can hold conversations while displaying contextually appropriate facial responses.

Electronic skin is early-stage for practical applications. Current robots are demonstration pieces and entertainment installations, not factory workers. But as humanoid robots move toward customer-facing roles — hotel concierges, museum guides, elderly care companions — realistic facial expressions become a critical interface layer.