The first tattoo robot.

Without possible human failures

And for those who like to decorate the body like me, they can now use technology, for that it is possible to enter a studio, choose a digital design and leave minutes later with a tattoo made by a robot and with a precision impossible for human hands, that is the proposal of Blackdot, a system developed by a startup from Austin Texas that combines artificial intelligence and computer vision to automate the tattoo process.

Blackdot is already in use, but for now it is limited to creating tattoos in shades of gray on flat areas of the body, such as arms and legs, the machine works with a head equipped with a needle positioned millimeters on the skin that applies superficial micro-perforations to insert the black ink.

They are just 0.25 mm deep, thinner than a human hair. Before starting the main design, the robot makes test points that are analyzed by camera and laser, adjusting the pressure and depth based on a database that considers different skin types.

It is less painful than the traditional method

The result is a faster, more precise and, according to the company, considerably less painful application than the traditional method; an integrated suction system removes excess ink and fluids during the process, keeping the area clean.

The designs are provided by tattoo artists, who receive commission each time their work is chosen and are available for any machine connected to the cloud, although it is possible to limit their use to maintain exclusivity. Since April, a prototope has been in operation at the famous Bing Battoo studio in New York, arousing curiosity and also resistance in the tattoo community.

The company plans to offer Blackdot and a rental model for studios, but is still looking for investors to expand production. If the idea prospers, the act of tattooing could be about to undergo a transformation as profound as the one the art itself has undergone over the centuries.