自动驾驶卡车现世

AS IT IS 2015-10-07 Driver Lets Go of Wheel in New Truck 自动驾驶卡车现世

The first self-driving semi-trailer truck began its first trip on a major European highway last week.

The German automobile¹ company Daimler made the vehicle, which is named Actros. It is perhaps the first mass-produced truck whose driver will only be required to watch the vehicle's movements. The driver will have duties similar to those of an airline pilot while the plane flies in autopilot mode.

The new 430-horsepower truck began its test drive last Friday from the German city of Stuttgart. The truck was loaded with 40 tons of cargo².

Wolfgang Bernhard, the head of Daimler's trucks and buses division, drove the Actros. Once on the road, he let the truck take control of steering³, so that it could move around other vehicles.

The Actros reached a speed of 80 kilometers an hour while driving down the busy road. The vehicle was followed by a car equipped with cameras. Also following was a police car, in case of an emergency.

Wolfgang Bernhard says the driver of the Actros must follow strict rules.

"I'm not allowed to turn around. I'm not allowed to turn to the side because I have to continue to monitor the traffic situation," Mr. Bernhard says. "But I can take my hands off the wheel ... the steering is smooth and the vehicle remains⁴ on track."

Radar⁵, a number of video cameras and sensing devices continually watch other vehicles and road conditions. The truck will ask the driver to take control of the vehicle in dangerous situations. If the driver does not, the truck will slow to a stop by itself.

Daimler says its trucks will help drivers on long road trips and in stop-and-go traffic conditions. The company hopes governments will pass necessary laws to permit the use of its self-driving trucks by 2020.

Words in This Story

autopilot - n. a system used to control the movement of a vehicle without direct control by a human operator

cargo - n. something that is carred from one place to another by boat, airplane, etc.

steering - adj. controlling the direction of something

strict - adj. strong or exacting⁶

monitor - v. to watch or inspect something for a reason

track - n. a path made by people

1 automobile   

n.汽车，机动车

参考例句：

• He is repairing the brake lever of an automobile.他正在修理汽车的刹车杆。
• The automobile slowed down to go around the curves in the road.汽车在路上转弯时放慢了速度。

2 cargo   

n.(一只船或一架飞机运载的)货物

参考例句：

• The ship has a cargo of about 200 ton.这条船大约有200吨的货物。
• A lot of people discharged the cargo from a ship.许多人从船上卸下货物。

3 steering   

n.操舵装置

参考例句：

• He beat his hands on the steering wheel in frustration. 他沮丧地用手打了几下方向盘。
• Steering according to the wind, he also framed his words more amicably. 他真会看风使舵，口吻也马上变得温和了。

4 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

5 radar   

n.雷达，无线电探测器

参考例句：

• They are following the flight of an aircraft by radar.他们正在用雷达追踪一架飞机的飞行。
• Enemy ships were detected on the radar.敌舰的影像已显现在雷达上。

6 exacting   

adj.苛求的，要求严格的

参考例句：

• He must remember the letters and symbols with exacting precision.他必须以严格的精度记住每个字母和符号。
• The public has been more exacting in its demands as time has passed.随着时间的推移，公众的要求更趋严格。