2022年经济学人 人行道上的自动送货机器人正在忙着运送食品杂货

Science & Technology

科技版块

Logistics

物流

Autonomous¹ deliveries

自动送货

Sidewalk robots are already busy delivering groceries

人行道上的自动送货机器人正在忙着运送食品杂货

ALTHOUGH IT IS a business not many are aware of, sidewalk robots are set to become an industry with annual sales of $1bn within a decade, reckons IDTechEx, a British firm of analysts².

英国分析公司IDTechEx估计，尽管没有多少人留意人行道上的自动送货机器人这个行业，但在十年内，它将成为一个年销售额为10亿美元的行业。

These four- or six-wheeled autonomous machines, usually the size of a suitcase, are already delivering groceries and other goods in America, China and Europe.

这些四轮或六轮的自动送货机，通常有行李箱大小，已经在美国、中国和欧洲运送食品杂货和其他商品了。

That puts them ahead of many driverless cars, vans and lorries being developed.

这使得他们领先于许多正在研发的无人驾驶汽车、面包车和卡车。

Those bigger vehicles are held back not by technology but regulation, says Zehao Li of IDTechEx.

IDTechEx的李泽浩表示，这些大型汽车不是受技术的限制，而是受监管的限制。

This means having a "safety driver" on board ready to take over if there is a problem, which is hardly labour-saving.

这意味着车上要有一名“安全司机”，随时准备在出现问题时接手，这很难节省劳动力。

For these larger contraptions regulators want to see safety systems thoroughly³ proved.

对于这些更大的汽车装置，监管方希望相关公司能够证明系统绝对安全。

But there are legal hurdles⁴, too.

但也存在法律障碍。

In January Britain's Law Commission, which reviews legislation, recommended that it should not be the person in the driver's seat who faces prosecution⁵ if a vehicle in autonomous mode crashes, but the manufacturer or body that sought approval for its use.

今年1月，负责审查立法的英国法律委员会建议，如果自动驾驶模式下的车辆发生碰撞，将面临起诉的不应是驾驶座上的人，而应是寻求批准其使用的制造商或机构。

Meanwhile, sidewalk robots are getting on with the job.

与此同时，人行道上的自动送货机器人也开始工作了。

Among them, Starship Technologies, based in San Francisco, reckons it has already clocked up more than 2.5m deliveries with bots in a number of cities, university campuses and business parks in Europe and America.

其中，总部位于旧金山的星际科技公司估计，在欧洲、美国的一些城市、大学校园和商业园区，该公司已经交付了250多万辆机器人。

Amazon is carrying out trials with a similar sort of machine it calls Scout⁶.

亚马逊正在对一种类似的机器人进行试验，该机器被称为Scout。

Kiwibot, a Colombian startup, is making sidewalk deliveries in California.

哥伦比亚初创公司Kiwibot正在加州人行道上送货。

Typically, these robots carry a few bags of groceries using a variety of sensors⁷, including cameras, radar⁸ and GPS to navigate⁹ and avoid obstacles and people.

通常，这些机器人携带几袋食品杂货，使用各种传感器，包括摄像头、雷达和GPS来导航和避开障碍物和人群。

Their progress can be monitored on a phone app, which also unlocks them for goods to be retrieved¹⁰.

送货过程可以通过手机应用程序监控，该应用程序还可以解锁他们，以便取回货物。

As they are small, move slowly (Starship's bots might reach a heady 6kph) and are "telemonitored" by people in a control room who can take over, authorities seem more willing to give them a green light.

由于它们体积小，移动缓慢（星际公司的机器人最大速度可能达到6公里/小时），并且是由控制室中人“远程监控”（也可以接管），监管方似乎更愿意给它们开绿灯。

Such robots are also becoming more autonomous.

这样的机器人有更多的自主权。

In January Serve Robotics, another San Franciscan firm whose backers include Uber, a ride-hailing giant, said it had deployed¹¹ a new sidewalk bot with "level 4" autonomy, which means it can operate without telemonitoring in some predesignated areas.

今年1月，旧金山另一家公司Serve Robotics（其投资者包括打车巨头优步）表示，该公司已经部署了一个新的人行道自动送货机器人，具有“4级”自主权，这意味着它可以在一些预先指定的区域无需远程监控即可运行。

Robotic versions which operate on roads but have no driver’s cab are also appearing.

在道路上运行但没有驾驶室的送货机器人也在出现。

Nuro, a Silicon¹² Valley firm, makes one about the size of a small car that can carry 24 bags of groceries. It has chilled and heated compartments¹³ for food and drinks.

硅谷的一家公司Nuro，制造了一辆小型汽车大小的送货机器人，可以装载24袋食品杂货。它有供食物和饮料使用的冷冻和加热隔间。

Udelv, also a Californian firm, is developing a larger type called Transporter to operate at highway speeds.

Udelv也是加州的一家公司，它正在开发一种更大的送货机器人叫做Transporter，可以高速运行。

Being much further along the road in earning their keep, these delivery bots are helping¹⁴ to pave the way for the time when bigger autonomous vehicles can join them.

这类送货机器人在挣钱方面走得更远，为更大的自动驾驶汽车加入他们铺平了道路。

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 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

3 thoroughly   

adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地

参考例句：

• The soil must be thoroughly turned over before planting.一定要先把土地深翻一遍再下种。
• The soldiers have been thoroughly instructed in the care of their weapons.士兵们都系统地接受过保护武器的训练。

4 hurdles   

n.障碍( hurdle的名词复数 )；跳栏；（供人或马跳跃的）栏架；跨栏赛

参考例句：

• In starting a new company, many hurdles must be crossed. 刚开办一个公司时，必须克服许多障碍。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• There are several hurdles to be got over in this project. 在这项工程中有一些困难要克服。 来自辞典例句

5 prosecution   

n.起诉，告发，检举，执行，经营

参考例句：

• The Smiths brought a prosecution against the organizers.史密斯家对组织者们提出起诉。
• He attempts to rebut the assertion made by the prosecution witness.他试图反驳原告方证人所作的断言。

6 scout   

n.童子军，侦察员；v.侦察，搜索

参考例句：

• He was mistaken for an enemy scout and badly wounded.他被误认为是敌人的侦察兵，受了重伤。
• The scout made a stealthy approach to the enemy position.侦察兵偷偷地靠近敌军阵地。

7 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

8 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。

9 navigate   

v.航行，飞行；导航，领航

参考例句：

• He was the first man to navigate the Atlantic by air.他是第一个飞越大西洋的人。
• Such boats can navigate on the Nile.这种船可以在尼罗河上航行。

10 retrieved   

v.取回( retrieve的过去式和过去分词 )；恢复；寻回；检索（储存的信息）

参考例句：

• Yesterday I retrieved the bag I left in the train. 昨天我取回了遗留在火车上的包。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He reached over and retrieved his jacket from the back seat. 他伸手从后座上取回了自己的夹克。 来自辞典例句

11 deployed   

（尤指军事行动）使展开( deploy的过去式和过去分词 )； 施展； 部署； 有效地利用

参考例句：

• Tanks have been deployed all along the front line. 沿整个前线已部署了坦克。
• The artillery was deployed to bear on the fort. 火炮是对着那个碉堡部署的。

12 silicon   

n.硅(旧名矽)

参考例句：

• This company pioneered the use of silicon chip.这家公司开创了使用硅片的方法。
• A chip is a piece of silicon about the size of a postage stamp.芯片就是一枚邮票大小的硅片。

13 compartments   

n.间隔( compartment的名词复数 )；（列车车厢的）隔间；（家具或设备等的）分隔间；隔层

参考例句：

• Your pencil box has several compartments. 你的铅笔盒有好几个格。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The first-class compartments are in front. 头等车室在前头。 来自《简明英汉词典》

14 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。