VOA慢速英语2012 Technology Report - Using the Brain to Move a Robotic Arm

 

Technology Report - Using the Brain to Move a Robotic Arm

科技报道 - 使用大脑思维操纵机械臂

This is the VOA Special English Technology Report.

这里是美国之音慢速英语科技报道。

Cathy Hutchinson is a tetraplegic. She has not been able to move her arms, legs or speak since suffering a stroke nearly fifteen years ago. Recently, she learned how to control a robotic arm using her thoughts. She now can use brain activity to serve herself a drink.

凯茜·哈钦森（Cathy Hutchinson）是一名四肢瘫痪者。自从15年前中风以来，她一直无法活动四肢，也无法说话。最近她学会了如何用思维操纵机械臂。目前她可以用思维（操纵机械臂）给自己倒杯饮料。

The American woman is one of two people who took part in a research project known as BrainGate2. The researchers have spent years studying how to help people who are paralyzed regain¹ movement in their arms and legs.

她是大脑之门2期（BrainGate2）研究项目的两名测试者之一。研究人员花了数年时间研究如何帮助瘫痪者重新获得四肢活动。

John Donoghue is a neuroscientist with Brown University and the Department of Veterans Affairs. He also was part of the project.

约翰·多诺霍（John Donoghue）是一名神经学家，就职于布朗大学以及美国退伍军人事务所，同时也是该项目研究人员之一。

JOHN DONOGHUE: “People who are paralyzed have their brain disconnected from their body. So they are not able to go out and do everyday things that you and I can do, like reach for a glass of water or scratch your nose. So our idea is to bypass that damaged nervous system and go directly from the brain to the outside world so the brain signals can, not control muscle, but control machines or devices like a computer or a robotic limb.”

多诺霍：“瘫痪者脑部与身体之间的神经连接已经断开，所以他们无法走出去，做一些你我都可以做到的事情，例如伸手拿一杯水或刮下鼻子。我们的想法是绕过受损神经系统，将大脑直接与外部连接，这样大脑信号虽然无法控制肌肉，但可以控制机器或设备，像计算机或机械假肢。”

The two paralyzed people had small sensors² connected to the part of the brain that controls movement. The devices measured brain activity and sent that information to a computer.

这两名瘫痪者被植入了一个连接到大脑中控制运动的部分的小型传感器。这个传感器可以测量大脑活动，并将大脑活动信息发送给计算机。

Cathy Hutchinson drinking from a bottle using the robotic arm 

The computer has special software that turns the information into digital commands for operating other devices. The researchers used a highly developed robotic arm to recreate human actions.

这台计算机安装了了一个特殊软件，可以将这些信息转换为操作其它设备的数字命令。研究人员使用了一个高度发达的机械臂来重现人类活动。

Scientists from Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School and the German Aerospace³ Center also took part in the study.

来自马萨诸塞州总医院、哈佛医学院和德国航空航天中心的科学家也参与了这项研究。

The BrainGate team had its first success in two thousand six. A tetraplegic stabbing victim was able use the brain-computer interface⁴ system to control a computer cursor. John Donoghue says the latest development using robotic arms is a major victory.

2006年大脑之门团队首获成功。一名四肢瘫痪者当时能够使用脑-机接口系统控制计算机光标。多诺霍表示，最新进展开始使用机械臂是一项重大胜利。

A video of the latest experiment shows Cathy Hutchinson using the robotic arm to pick up a cup of coffee. She guides the cup toward her mouth, moves it forward and drinks through a straw.

一个最新实验的视频显示，哈钦森使用机械臂拿起一杯咖啡，并把杯子拿到嘴边通过吸管喝到咖啡。

Lead investigator⁵ Leigh Hochberg says the first time she did it was a magical moment.

首席研究员雷·哈奇伯格（Leigh Hochberg）说，哈钦森第一次完成这个动作时是一个神奇的时刻。 

LEIGH HOCHBERG: “To see her with that robotic arm reach out and pick up that cup of coffee and serve herself that coffee for the first time in nearly fifteen years, it was an incredible moment.”

哈奇伯格：“看到她使用机械臂拿起那杯咖啡，近15年来第一次靠自己喝到咖啡。这是一个令人难以置信的时刻。” 

The research team carried out almost two hundred tests with two different robotic arms. The two individuals were able to pick up their target objects forty-three to sixty-six percent of the time.

该研究小组使用两种不同的机械臂进行了近两百次测试。这两名瘫痪者都能够（使用机械臂）拿起目标物体，成功率为43%到66%。

The researchers are calling the information very promising⁶. But they say it will take years to fully⁷ develop the technology for everyday use.

研究人员称这些信息极有前途。但他们表示，将这一科技充分开发到日常使用中尚需数年时间。

A report on the BrainGate study appeared last week in the scientific journal Nature.

关于大脑之门的研究报告上周发表在《自然》科学杂志上。

And that's the VOA Special English Technology Report. I'm June Simms.

1 regain   

vt.重新获得，收复，恢复

参考例句：

• He is making a bid to regain his World No.1 ranking.他正为重登世界排名第一位而努力。
• The government is desperate to regain credibility with the public.政府急于重新获取公众的信任。

2 sensors   

n.传感器，灵敏元件( sensor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• There were more than 2000 sensors here. 这里装有两千多个灵敏元件。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Significant changes have been noted where sensors were exposed to trichloride. 当传感器暴露在三氯化物中时，有很大变化。 来自辞典例句

3 aerospace   

adj.航空的，宇宙航行的

参考例句：

• The world's entire aerospace industry is feeling the chill winds of recession.全世界的航空航天工业都感受到了经济衰退的寒意。
• Edward Murphy was an aerospace engineer for the US Army.爱德华·墨菲是一名美军的航宇工程师。

4 interface   

n.接合部位，分界面；v.(使)互相联系

参考例句：

• My computer has a network interface,which allows me to get to other computers.我的计算机有网络接口可以与其它计算机连在一起。
• This program has perspicuous interface and extensive application. 该程序界面明了，适用范围广。

5 investigator   

n.研究者，调查者，审查者

参考例句：

• He was a special investigator for the FBI.他是联邦调查局的特别调查员。
• The investigator was able to deduce the crime and find the criminal.调查者能够推出犯罪过程并锁定罪犯。

6 promising   

adj.有希望的，有前途的

参考例句：

• The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
• We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。

7 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。