VOA慢速英语2021 波士顿动力发布首款搬箱子专用机器人

The American robotics company Boston Dynamics¹ recently made public a new robot called Stretch. It is designed to do only one job: to move containers, or boxes, in large storage buildings called warehouses².

美国机器人技术公司波士顿动力最近公开了一款名为Stretch的新型机器人。它被设计成只能执行一项工作，那就是在大型仓库里搬运箱子。

Michael Perry is vice³ president of business development for Boston Dynamics. He said Stretch is the first robot designed for one job that the company has built. He added that the robot was developed because of requests from companies around the world.

迈克尔·佩里是波士顿动力公司的业务发展副总裁。他说，Stretch是该公司制造的首款专为单一工作设计的机器人。他还表示，该机器人是应世界各地公司的要求而开发的。

"We heard pretty much universally across warehousing that truck unloading is one of the most physically⁴ difficult and unpleasant jobs... And that's where Stretch comes into play," Perry told Reuters.

佩里对路透社表示：“我们在各个仓库听到最多的是，卸货是最费力和最令人不悦的工作，而这正是Stretch的用武之地。”

Stretch has a small base that permits it to move around small spaces in existing warehouses without having to redesign them. The robot also has an arm with highly developed cameras that can identify and deal with boxes of many shapes and sizes.

Stretch的底座很小，因此无需对仓库重新设计，就能在现有仓库的狭小空间内移动。该机器人的手臂还配备了高度发达的摄像头，可以识别和处理各种形状和大小的箱子。

Perry said Stretch can pick up boxes that weigh about 23 kilograms. He adds that the robot can move about 800 boxes in one hour.

佩里表示，Stretch可以拿起重约23公斤的箱子。他还表示，该机器人在一小时内可以搬运大约800个箱子。

Boston Dynamics is known for YouTube videos of its dog-like ‘Spot' and humanoid ‘Atlas' robots.

波士顿动力在YouTube上以其Spot机器狗和Atlas人形机器人的视频而闻名。

Perry said now is a good time for its latest robot to benefit from increasing demand for speedy home delivery.

佩里表示，现在是其最新款机器人受益于快递需求持续增长的好时机。

Experts say the warehousing industry experienced strong growth in 2020. That growth is expected to continue this year. They say online buying during the coronavirus health crisis drove the need for a huge expansion in delivery services.

专家表示，仓储业在2020年实现了强劲增长。预计这一增长今年将会持续下去。他们表示，新冠病毒健康危机期间的网购驱动了对快递业务大型扩张的需求。

Boston Dynamics has not released a price for Stretch. But the company said the system can be set up without costly⁵ redesigns or investments in new buildings or structures.

波士顿动力尚未发布Stretch的价格。但是该公司表示，该系统的安装无需对仓库进行昂贵的重新设计，也无需投资建造新建筑。

1 dynamics   

n.力学，动力学，动力，原动力；动态

参考例句：

• In order to succeed,you must master complicated knowledge of dynamics.要取得胜利，你必须掌握很复杂的动力学知识。
• Dynamics is a discipline that cannot be mastered without extensive practice.动力学是一门不做大量习题就不能掌握的学科。

2 warehouses   

仓库，货栈( warehouse的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The whisky was taken to bonded warehouses at Port Dundee. 威士忌酒已送到邓迪港的保稅仓库。
• Row upon row of newly built warehouses line the waterfront. 江岸新建的仓库鳞次栉比。

3 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

4 physically   

adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律

参考例句：

• He was out of sorts physically,as well as disordered mentally.他浑身不舒服，心绪也很乱。
• Every time I think about it I feel physically sick.一想起那件事我就感到极恶心。

5 costly   

adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的

参考例句：

• It must be very costly to keep up a house like this.维修这么一幢房子一定很昂贵。
• This dictionary is very useful,only it is a bit costly.这本词典很有用，左不过贵了些。