VOA标准英语2014--Drones May Soon Send Data From High Seas 无人机可能很快从公海传回数据

 

Drones May Soon Send Data From High Seas 无人机可能很快从公海传回数据

Drones are usually associated with unmanned flying vehicles, but autonomous¹ watercraft also are becoming useful tools for jobs ranging from scientific exploration to law enforcement to searching for a missing airliner² in the Indian Ocean.

Non-military flying drones for civilian³ use often rely on sunlight to recharge their batteries. But sea-faring drones, such as Wave Glider⁴, can extract energy from the sun and the water.

Together with solar cells on their decks, these vessels⁶ use an array of specially⁷ designed underwater fins⁸ to harvest energy from the incessant⁹ up and down motion of waves on the ocean's surface.

The Wave Glider, built by California-based company Liquid Robotics, can remain at sea for months, sending data about the weather and the water to the control center via satellite.

Liquid Robotics’ president, Bill Vass, said it also can cooperate with other drones to share data. “So if you need more processing power, they'll call their friends over. And so the future is having large numbers of them working together, being able to solve some really tough problems for mankind.”

Last year, the Wave Glider broke the Guinness World Record for the longest journey by an unmanned surface vehicle when it travelled non-stop from the U.S. Pacific coast to Australia.

Another robotic ocean vessel⁵ called Saildrone is powered by the wind. It uses a freely rotating wing controlled by a special tail to travel long distances. The way it is built and designed allows it to stay upright even in the worst weather conditions.

After testing Saildrone on a journey from San Francisco to Hawaii, its builders now plan new tasks, said Saildrone’s Chief Executive Officer, Richard Jenkins.

“Phase two is equipping it with very high-grade science sensors¹⁰ and getting some really precise scientific data,” said Jenkins.

 

Jenkins sees a future for Saildrone in patrolling sea borders and enforcing laws that regulate fishing and protect endangered species.

1 autonomous   

adj.自治的；独立的

参考例句：

• They proudly declared themselves part of a new autonomous province.他们自豪地宣布成为新自治省的一部分。
• This is a matter that comes within the jurisdiction of the autonomous region.这件事是属于自治区权限以内的事务。

2 airliner   

n.客机，班机

参考例句：

• The pilot landed the airliner safely.驾驶员使客机安全着陆。
• The passengers were shepherded across the tarmac to the airliner.旅客们被引导走过跑道去上飞机。

3 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

4 glider   

n.滑翔机；滑翔导弹

参考例句：

• The glider was soaring above the valley.那架滑翔机在山谷上空滑翔。
• The pilot managed to land the glider on a safe place.那个驾驶员设法让滑翔机着陆到一个安全的地方。

5 vessel   

n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管

参考例句：

• The vessel is fully loaded with cargo for Shanghai.这艘船满载货物驶往上海。
• You should put the water into a vessel.你应该把水装入容器中。

6 vessels   

n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人

参考例句：

• The river is navigable by vessels of up to 90 tons. 90 吨以下的船只可以从这条河通过。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• All modern vessels of any size are fitted with radar installations. 所有现代化船只都有雷达装置。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

7 specially   

adv.特定地；特殊地；明确地

参考例句：

• They are specially packaged so that they stack easily.它们经过特别包装以便于堆放。
• The machine was designed specially for demolishing old buildings.这种机器是专为拆毁旧楼房而设计的。

8 fins   

[医]散热片；鱼鳍；飞边；鸭掌

参考例句：

• The level of TNF-α positively correlated with BMI,FPG,HbA1C,TG,FINS and IRI,but not with SBP and DBP. TNF-α水平与BMI、FPG、HbA1C、TG、FINS和IRI呈显著正相关，与SBP、DBP无相关。 来自互联网
• Fins are a feature specific to fish. 鱼鳍是鱼类特有的特征。 来自辞典例句

9 incessant   

adj.不停的，连续的

参考例句：

• We have had incessant snowfall since yesterday afternoon.从昨天下午开始就持续不断地下雪。
• She is tired of his incessant demands for affection.她厌倦了他对感情的不断索取。

10 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