VOA常速英语2015--能做饭的机器人即将进入厨房

能做饭的机器人即将进入厨房

Search-and-rescue operations in dangerous environments are often seen as the first areas that will employ advanced robots. But there is another segment of everyday life that may soon see many robots taking over jobs usually reserved for humans: the restaurant industry.

At the DARPA Robotic Challenge competition held in California, robots were required to complete tasks quite simple for humans — drive a vehicle, climb up steps, cross some rough terrain¹, shut a valve. Some spectacular failures illustrated² how hard it is to design efficient walking machines.

在加州举行的DARPA机器人挑战赛上，机器人杯要求完成对人类来说很简单的任务，比如开车、爬梯子、穿过不平的地面、关闭阀门。有些华丽丽的失败说明了很难设计出高效的行走机器人。

Only a few days later, at an annual food machinery³ and technology exhibition in Tokyo, a stationary⁴ robotic chef prepared food with remarkable⁵ versatility⁶, while other machines cooked, baked pastries⁷ and even wrapped perfect sushi.

就在几天后，在东京举行的年度食品机械和技术展览上，一个静止的机器人厨师以令人惊叹的多功能性准备着食物，同时有其他机器人在烹饪、烘焙面点，甚至包着完美的寿司。

Akihiro Suzuki, assistant manager at Yaskawa Electric, said his company's robot, MOTOMAN-SDA5, could be an excellent kitchen assistant because it never gets tired.

安川电机公司副经理铃木明弘称本公司的机器人MOTOMAN-SDA5永远不会疲倦，可以做一名出色的厨房助理。

“Obviously, it's difficult for him to taste or adjust heat or seasonings⁹ properly to get the best flavor," Suzuki said. "But if it's simple cooking with a specific proportion of seasoning⁸, he can repeat the same movement to reproduce the same dish.”

“显然，让他来品尝、调整热量或佐料来达到最佳口味是很难的，但如果是简单的烹饪，只需佐料的具体比例，他就能重复同样的动作来做出同样的饭菜。”

Visitors were impressed. Masayo Mori, watching the robot at work, said, "I wouldn't mind getting a husband like this for myself.”

参观者对此印象深刻，Masayo Mori观看了正在工作的机器人，她说，“我不介意有这样的丈夫。”

Suzumo Machinery displayed its sushi maker¹⁰, which takes over the strenuous¹¹ and repetitive task of wrapping the increasingly popular Japanese delicacy¹².

Suzumo机械公司展出了寿司机器人，它能进行费力的重复性任务，制作这种越发流行的日本美食。

Hiroshi Monden, one of the company managers, said sushi "has been spread to the world, but sushi chefs are not as much. With this machine, anybody can make sushi so easily and repeatedly.”

该公司经理Hiroshi Monden说，“寿司已经遍及全世界，但寿司厨师还没有，有了这种机器，任何人都能轻易地进行重复的寿司制作。”

Another new technology that impressed onlookers¹³ was a machine designed by the Furukawa Kikou company for scooping¹⁵ and moving soft ingredients without leaving any residue¹⁶. Development division manager Takuya Furukawa said the machine, SWITL, was perfect for the fast-food industry.

另一项给参观者留下深刻印象的新技术是由Furukawa Kikou公司开发的一款机器人，它能舀取和移动柔软的原料而不留痕迹。开发部经理Takuya Furukawa说这台名叫SWITL的机器人非常适合快餐业。

“This machine is devised to scoop¹⁴ up soft material like hamburger patties or dough¹⁷ to put them into ovens or freezers without spoiling their shapes,” he said.

“我们开发这款机器人来舀取汉堡包肉饼或面团等柔软材料，让它们放在烤箱或冰箱里，同时又不毁坏其外形。”

The company would not say what kind of technological¹⁸ breakthrough their innovation was based upon. Experts suspect the surfaces may be covered with some kind of hydrophobic material that repels¹⁹ water molecules²⁰.

这家公司没有透露其发明的机器人是基于哪种技术突破，专家揣测其表面可能覆盖有排斥水分子的疏水材料。

 

Other robots, such as those that frost cakes or peel and slice apples, may also find their way into today’s kitchens.

其他的机器人，比如那些能冷冻蛋糕、给苹果削皮并切片的机器人可能也会进入今天的厨房中。

1 terrain   

n.地面，地形，地图

参考例句：

• He had made a detailed study of the terrain.他对地形作了缜密的研究。
• He knows the terrain of this locality like the back of his hand.他对这一带的地形了如指掌。

2 illustrated   

adj. 有插图的，列举的 动词illustrate的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• His lecture was illustrated with slides taken during the expedition. 他在讲演中使用了探险时拍摄到的幻灯片。
• The manufacturing Methods: Will be illustrated in the next chapter. 制作方法将在下一章说明。

3 machinery   

n.(总称)机械，机器；机构

参考例句：

• Has the machinery been put up ready for the broadcast?广播器材安装完毕了吗？
• Machinery ought to be well maintained all the time.机器应该随时注意维护。

4 stationary   

adj.固定的，静止不动的

参考例句：

• A stationary object is easy to be aimed at.一个静止不动的物体是容易瞄准的。
• Wait until the bus is stationary before you get off.你要等公共汽车停稳了再下车。

5 remarkable   

adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的

参考例句：

• She has made remarkable headway in her writing skills.她在写作技巧方面有了长足进步。
• These cars are remarkable for the quietness of their engines.这些汽车因发动机没有噪音而不同凡响。

6 versatility   

n.多才多艺，多样性，多功能

参考例句：

• Versatility is another of your strong points,but don't overdo it by having too many irons in the fire.你还有一个长处是多才多艺，但不要揽事太多而太露锋芒。
• This versatility comes from a dual weather influence.这种多样性是由于双重的气候影响而形成的。

7 pastries   

n.面粉制的糕点

参考例句：

• He gave a dry laugh, then sat down and started on the pastries. 杜新箨说着干笑一声，坐下去就吃点心。 来自子夜部分
• Mike: So many! I like Xijiang raisins, beef jerky, and local pastries. 麦克：太多了。我最喜欢吃新疆葡萄干、牛肉干和风味点心。

8 seasoning   

n.调味；调味料；增添趣味之物

参考例句：

• Salt is the most common seasoning.盐是最常用的调味品。
• This sauce uses mushroom as its seasoning.这酱油用蘑菇作调料。

9 seasonings   

n.调味品，佐料( seasoning的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• It emphasizes the use of seasonings, so no two dishes ever taste alike. 它对调味品十分讲究。因此，没有两个菜会有同样的味道。 来自地道口语脱口SHOW 高中超越版
• The food made of flour and various seasonings is called moon cake. 中秋节的食品也是圆圆的，也象征着团圆，这种用面和各种作料做的食品叫月饼。 来自互联网

10 maker   

n.制造者，制造商

参考例句：

• He is a trouble maker，You must be distant with him.他是个捣蛋鬼，你不要跟他在一起。
• A cabinet maker must be a master craftsman.家具木工必须是技艺高超的手艺人。

11 strenuous   

adj.奋发的，使劲的；紧张的；热烈的，狂热的

参考例句：

• He made strenuous efforts to improve his reading. 他奋发努力提高阅读能力。
• You may run yourself down in this strenuous week.你可能会在这紧张的一周透支掉自己。

12 delicacy   

n.精致，细微，微妙，精良；美味，佳肴

参考例句：

• We admired the delicacy of the craftsmanship.我们佩服工艺师精巧的手艺。
• He sensed the delicacy of the situation.他感觉到了形势的微妙。

13 onlookers   

n.旁观者，观看者( onlooker的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• A crowd of onlookers gathered at the scene of the crash. 在撞车地点聚集了一大群围观者。
• The onlookers stood at a respectful distance. 旁观者站在一定的距离之外，以示尊敬。

14 scoop   

n.铲子，舀取，独家新闻；v.汲取，舀取，抢先登出

参考例句：

• In the morning he must get his boy to scoop it out.早上一定得叫佣人把它剜出来。
• Uh,one scoop of coffee and one scoop of chocolate for me.我要一勺咖啡的和一勺巧克力的。

15 scooping   

n.捞球v.抢先报道( scoop的现在分词 )；（敏捷地）抱起；抢先获得；用铲[勺]等挖（洞等）

参考例句：

• Heated ice cream scoop is used for scooping really cold ice cream. 加热的冰淇淋勺是用来舀非常凉的冰淇淋的。 来自互联网
• The scoop-up was the key phase during a scooping cycle. 3个区间中，铲取区间是整个作业循环的关键。 来自互联网

16 residue   

n.残余，剩余，残渣

参考例句：

• Mary scraped the residue of food from the plates before putting them under water.玛丽在把盘子放入水之前先刮去上面的食物残渣。
• Pesticide persistence beyond the critical period for control leads to residue problems.农药一旦超过控制的临界期，就会导致残留问题。

17 dough   

n.生面团；钱，现款

参考例句：

• She formed the dough into squares.她把生面团捏成四方块。
• The baker is kneading dough.那位面包师在揉面。

18 technological   

adj.技术的；工艺的

参考例句：

• A successful company must keep up with the pace of technological change.一家成功的公司必须得跟上技术变革的步伐。
• Today,the pace of life is increasing with technological advancements.当今， 随着科技进步，生活节奏不断增快。

19 repels   

v.击退( repel的第三人称单数 )；使厌恶；排斥；推开

参考例句：

• His manner repels me. 他的举止让我厌恶。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Her callous attitude repels me. 她冷酷无情的态度引起我的反感。 来自《简明英汉词典》

20 molecules   

分子( molecule的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The structure of molecules can be seen under an electron microscope. 分子的结构可在电子显微镜下观察到。
• Inside the reactor the large molecules are cracked into smaller molecules. 在反应堆里，大分子裂变为小分子。