Prof Takeuchi, a pioneering researcher in the field of biohybrid robotics, hopes to improve the realness and thickness of the skin by adding sweat glands, pores, blood vessels, fat and nerves.

Another important challenge, he explained, will be “creating humanlike expressions by integrating sophisticated actuators, or muscles, inside the robot”.

His lab has already created robots capable of walking using biological muscle tissue, 3D lab-grown meat and self-healing artificial skin.

Earlier this month, EXROBOTS, a Chinese company, revealed their hyper-realistic humanoid robot heads that can mimic facial expressions and emotions.

Complete with smiles, beards, and the ability to stick out their tongues, their creators say the £162,600 humanoids are among the most advanced in the world.