VOA常速英语2015--科学家们表示人们需要柔软机器人（在线收听）

Scientists Say We Need Softer Robots 科学家们表示人们需要柔软机器人

WASHINGTON—

Today’s robots are mostly hard, rigid machines, with sharp edges and forceful movements. But a group of researchers at Carnegie Mellon University says robots, especially those that interact with people, should be softer and therefore safer.

Many of today’s robots resemble people — some only in parts while some are almost life-like. Others look like animals, from insects and fish to snakes and birds.

现在许多机器人都和人类相似，有的只是部分相近，而有些则是栩栩如生。其他的机器人看起来像动物,如昆虫，鱼类，蛇，鸟类等。

But most of them are hard-surfaced machines, designed to do heavy-duty work.

但这些机器人大多数是表面坚硬的机器，设计它们的目的是进行高强度的工作。

Soft robots, such as this cuddly baby seal called Paro used to comfort the elderly in Japanese assisted living homes, are rare. But researchers at Carnegie Mellon University say we need more of them.

而像这个名为帕罗用于关爱日本照护中心老人惹人怜爱的小海豹柔软机器人实属罕见。但卡耐基梅隆大学的研究人员表示我们需要更多这样的机器人。

“Ten years ago, people were doing robotics, people were building robots, but people were more interested in building robots using rigid materials and strong materials and powerful machines,” explains Yong-Lea Park of Carnegie Mellon University.

“10年前人们从事机器人行业,制造着机器人,但人们更感兴趣的是使用刚性，强力材料及强大机器制造机器人。”

Since many robots have to interact with people, Yong-Lea Park and his colleagues say making robots softer will make them safer for humans.

由于许多机器人要跟人打交道, 朴荣利和他的同事们说让机器人变的柔软会让他们对人类更安全。

Robotics professor Chris Atkeson says a robot’s rigid structure could be covered with inflatable segments that could change shape as needed.

机器人教授克里斯·阿特肯森表示一个机器人的刚性结构可以由充气部分替代,这样就可以根据需要改变形状。

He says researchers were inspired by Baymax, a robot in the popular Disney movie Big Hero 6.

他表示研究人员受到了大白的启发,这是在广受欢迎的迪士尼电影《超能陆战队》中登场的一款机器人。

“I have heard from many, many people about the positive impact the movie Big Hero 6 has had on kids, and it has had it in two ways. One, it makes them like robots, and, two, it makes them want to be scientists and engineers," he said.

“我听到许多人谈论这部电影对孩子产生的两个方面的的积极影响。首先是电影让孩子们喜欢上了机器人,其次是孩子们因为这部电影想成为科学家和工程师。”

Assistant mechanical engineering professor Carmel Majidi says wearable electronics are another field where researchers have to come up with new materials for friendly robots.

电子机械工程助理教授卡梅尔·马吉德表示可穿戴设备是研究人员为友好机器人构想新材料的另一个领域。

“So a big goal for us is to develop materials that are simultaneously compatible with that kind of more mature established microelectronic hardware,” said Majidi.

“所以对我们而言极其重要的一个目标是研发材料,同时兼容那种更成熟的微电子硬件。”

In Big Hero 6, Baymax serves as a health monitor.

在电影《超能陆战队》中大白是一台健康机器人

That technology is advancing rapidly, but researchers say, in order to be marketable, it will have to be more pleasing to touch and have around.

虽然技术迅猛发展,但研究人员表示为了市场化,机器人必须给人接触起来更加愉快的感觉。