15 September, 2013

From VOA Learning English, this is the Technology Report.

Researches at Johns Hopkins University's Applied Physics Laboratory [APL] in Laurel, Maryland have designed a new humanoid or human-like robot. Its name is Robo Sally. The machine can be controlled from a distance and can be used to do work that is dangerous for human beings.

Robo Sally

Robo Sally has two long arms with human-like hands. She can use her fingers to pick up small objects, examine them in detail and do most things that human hands can do. Each finger contains a tiny modern capable of squeezing 20 pounds of pinch force enough to defuse a bomb under the direction of an operator.

She sits on a modern base with wheels that let her move around, turn in tight spaces and climb over small objects.

Mike McLoughlin is the main investigator for the Applied Physics Laboratory's Prosthetics Program.

"The purpose of that program is to develop prosthetic arms that have all the capability of your natural arms, and you do all the complex motions that we can do with the natural arm - with the robot. So we had this idea if we did this for prosthetics for humans, we could also put these on robotic platforms and enable the robots to go out into dangerous situations."

It was a difficult job.Mr McLoughlin says the device had to have many small motors to have the ability to do what a human hand does. It also need to have human-like strength. The thumb was especially difficult because it permits the hand to hold objects. And everything had to fit into a space about the size of a human hand.

The next problem, he says, was to figure out how to control the artificial hand. "So we had to figure out how to make the connection between the brain and this arm. We've done that for spinal injury patients, where we can actually interface with the brain and use the patient's thoughts to control the arm."

For search-and-rescue duties, Robo Sally will be operated by a human being using a wireless machine that is far from the robot. The operator will also wear special gloves and glasses. The glasses were permitted the operator to see the robot's hands, even though they are far away.

Mr McLoughlin says this kind of robots could be used in what he calls "dull, dirty or dangerous" situations where fine human finger movements are required.

"Opening a door, or turning the valve or, you know, going to a factory or a power plant like Fukushima, that was all designed for humans. You need to be able to go in and have the human-like capabilities in order to be able to work in that environment."

Mr McLoughlin says the technology is not ready for everyday application, but he predicts that within five years we will see some wonderful improvements.

And that's the Technology Report from VOA Learning English.

From VOA Learning English, this is the Technology Report.

这里是美国之音慢速英语科技报道。

Researches at Johns Hopkins University's Applied Physics Laboratory [APL] in Laurel, Maryland have designed a new humanoid or human-like robot. Its name is Robo Sally. The machine can be controlled from a distance and can be used to do work that is dangerous for human beings.

位于马里兰州劳雷尔市的约翰斯·霍普金斯大学应用物理实验室的研究人员已经设计出一种仿人机器人，它的名字是萨莉(Robo Sally)。该机器能够在远处控制，用于从事对人类有危险的工作。

Robo Sally has two long arms with human-like hands. She can use her fingers to pick up small objects, examine them in detail and do most things that human hands can do. Each finger contains a tiny motor, capable of squeezing 20 pounds of pinch force, enough to defuse a bomb under the direction of an operator.

萨莉有两条长长的仿人手臂。她能用手指拿起小东西仔细检查，并做人手能做的大部分事情。她的每根手指都有一个小马达，可以产生20磅的握力，在操作员的控制下，该力量足够拆除炸弹。

She sits on a metal base with wheels that let her move around, turn in tight spaces and climb over small objects.

她坐(安装)在一个带轮子的金属底座上，使她能够四处活动，在狭小空间转弯，翻越小障碍物。

Mike McLoughlin is the main investigator for the Applied Physics Laboratory's Prosthetics Program.

麦克·洛克林(Mike McLoughlin)是应用物理实验室假肢项目的主要研究者。

"The purpose of that program is to develop prosthetic arms that have all the capability of your natural arms, and you do all the complex motions that we can do with the natural arm - with the robot. So we had this idea if we did this for prosthetics for humans, we could also put these on robotic platforms and enable the robots to go out into dangerous situations."

该项目旨在开发拥有所有人手能力的假肢，这样就能通过机械手做人手可以做的所有复杂动作。所以我们有了这个想法，如果我们这样做人类假肢，我们也可以把它们装到机器人平台上，使得机器人能够进入危险局面(处理危机)。”

It was a difficult job. Mr McLoughlin says the device had to have many small motors to have the ability to do what a human hand does. It also need to have human-like strength. The thumb was especially difficult because it permits the hand to hold objects. And everything had to fit into a space about the size of a human hand.

这是一项艰难的任务。洛克林先生说，该设备必须有许多小马达，才能具有人手的能力。它还需要近似人类的力量。拇指是尤其困难的，因为拇指让手能抓住东西。同时它必须适合放入人手大小的空间里。”

The next problem, he says, was to figure out how to control the artificial hand. "So we had to figure out how to make the connection between the brain and this arm. We've done that for spinal injury patients, where we can actually interface with the brain and use the patient's thoughts to control the arm."

他说，另一个问题是弄清楚如何控制这个仿真手。“所以我们必须弄清楚如何使大脑和手臂联系起来。我们已经为脊髓损伤患者实现了这点，我们可以通过与大脑配合，利用患者的思想控制假肢。”

For search-and-rescue duties, Robo Sally will be operated by a human being using a wireless machine that is far from the robot. The operator will also wear special gloves and glasses. The glasses were permitted the operator to see the robot's hands, even though they are far away.

在搜救任务上，萨莉能够被远处的操作人员使用无线设备控制。操作人员还将佩戴专用手套和眼镜。该专用眼镜能够使操作人员看到机器人的手，即使他们离得很远。

Mr McLoughlin says this kind of robots could be used in what he calls "dull, dirty or dangerous" situations where fine human finger movements are required.

洛克林先生说，这种机器人能够用于他所说的需要用到人类灵活手指运动的“枯燥、肮脏或危险的”情况下。

"Opening a door, or turning the valve of, you know, a factory or a power plant like Fukushima, that was all designed for humans. You need to be able to go in and have the human-like capabilities in order to be able to work in that environment."

“开门，打开阀门，例如工厂或福岛电站的阀门，这一切都是为人类设计的。所以它必须能够进去且具有类似于人的能力，以便在这种环境下工作。”

Mr McLoughlin says the technology is not ready for everyday application, but he predicts that within five years we will see some wonderful improvements.

洛克林先生说，该技术尚无法用于日常应用，但他预计在五年之内，人们将看到一些伟大的进步。