英语听力精选进阶版 14486

Insect-inspired robots

Summary

15 August 2014

Engineers in the US have created a group of more than 1,000 identical robots. Using a system modelled on insects, the 'Kilobots' work together to arrange themselves into a variety of shapes. The research was published in the journal Science.

Reporter:

Jonathan Webb

Report

The largest swarm¹ of robots in the world lives on a table in a lab at Harvard University. 

Each about the size of a sushi roll, with three spindly legs, the robots are all loaded with the same programme and given a simple black-and-white picture. 

When all 1,000 are given the 'go' signal, individual robots shuffle² slowly around the edge of the swarm, communicating via blinking infra-red lights. 

Once they're in an acceptable position inside the required shape, they stop. 

Tested on three different shapes, the robots took up to 12 hours to form each one. 

But their record-breaking display of teamwork, inspired by insect behaviour, is a step towards more ambitious robotic swarms³, which could sweep disaster sites or clean up polluted environments. 

1 swarm   

n.(昆虫)等一大群；vi.成群飞舞；蜂拥而入

参考例句：

• There is a swarm of bees in the tree.这树上有一窝蜜蜂。
• A swarm of ants are moving busily.一群蚂蚁正在忙碌地搬家。

2 shuffle   

n.拖著脚走，洗纸牌；v.拖曳，慢吞吞地走

参考例句：

• I wish you'd remember to shuffle before you deal.我希望在你发牌前记得洗牌。
• Don't shuffle your feet along.别拖着脚步走。

3 swarms   

蜂群，一大群( swarm的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• They came to town in swarms. 他们蜂拥来到城里。
• On June the first there were swarms of children playing in the park. 6月1日那一天，这个公园里有一群群的孩子玩耍。