VOA慢速英语2019 连接到5G的英国奶牛可以控制自己挤奶（在线收听）

British Cows Connected to 5G Can Control Own Milking

We have recently heard some interesting ways that 5G wireless technology might change our lives in the future.

最近，我们经常会听到5G无线技术可能会以一些有趣的方式改变未来的生活。

5G promises internet speeds between 50 to 100 times faster than current 4G systems. The technology was also built to handle many more users without slowing wireless services down. Such improvements are sure to be popular for 5G users worldwide.

5G网速有望比目前的4G快50到100倍。该技术还可以在不降低无线服务速度的情况下处理更多的用户需求。这种提升肯定会受到全球5G用户的欢迎。

While 5G is set to launch in some limited areas of the United States this year, much of the rest of the world is not expected to receive widely available service until 2023.

虽然5G将于今年在美国有限的部分地区推出，但预计全球大部分地区要等到2023年才能广泛使用这一服务。

One project in Britain, though, is already testing this superfast technology, but not on humans. Instead, the experiment involves an unlikely group of internet users - cows. The system connects the animals to 5G in an effort to automate the milking process.

然而，英国的一个项目已经在测试这一超高速技术，只不过实验对象并非人类。相反，该实验主体涉及的是一群不太可能的互联网用户——奶牛。该系统将动物与5G技术联系起来，以实现挤奶过程自动化。

The project was developed by American technology company Cisco Systems. It is part of a Cisco-led program called 5G RuralFirst. The project also receives money from the British government.

该项目由美国科技公司思科系统网络公司开发。该项目是由思科领导的5G RuralFirst项目的一部分。该项目还得到了英国政府的资金支持。

Cisco says the program seeks to explore the future of 5G connectivity in rural communities around the world. Rural areas are expected to be the last to receive 5G service.

思科表示，该项目旨在探索全球农村社区5G连接的未来。农村有望成为最后一个获得5G服务的地区。

Testing areas were set up at farms in three rural areas of England. The cows are equipped with 5G-connected devices that link up to a robotic milking system. The system uses sensors and machine learning to fully automate the process.

英格兰三个农村地区的农场设立了试验区。奶牛身上配备的5G连接设备与一个机器人控制的挤奶系统相连。该系统利用传感器和机器学习实现整个挤奶过程的自动化。

System designers say technology takes over after a cow feels ready to be milked and walks toward an automatic gate. The device is designed to recognize each individual cow. It then positions equipment to the right body position for milking. During the process, machines release food for the cow as a reward.

系统设计人员称，当奶牛感觉准备好挤奶并走向一个自动门时，接下来的流程将由技术完成。该设备可以识别出每一头奶牛。然后，它将（挤奶）设备准确地锁定到挤奶的位置。在这个过程中，机器会给奶牛投放食物作为奖励。

One of the test areas is in the town of Shepton Mallet, in southwest England. There, about 50 of the farm’s 180 cows are fitted with 5G smart collars and health-observing ear sensors.

其中一个试验区位于英格兰西南部的Shepton Mallet镇。在那里，180头奶牛中约有50头配备了5G智能项圈和健康监测耳部传感器。

Project officials say the devices do not harm the cows and the sensors permit farmers to immediately identify any problems or health concerns.

项目官员表示，这些设备不会对奶牛造成伤害，传感器能够让农民立即发现问题或健康隐患。

Duncan Forbes heads the government-funded Agricultural Engineering Precision Innovation Centre in Shepton Mallet. He told Reuters that so far, he thinks the project shows the farm’s cow operations can be greatly improved with 5G technology.

邓肯·福布斯(Duncan Forbes)是由政府资助的农业工程精密创新中心的负责人，该中心位于谢普敦马利特市。他告诉路透社，到目前为止，他认为该项目表明，5G技术可以大大改善农场的奶牛生产情况。

“We are testing the ability of 5G to transmit the data from our sensors much quicker, and not via the farm’s PC, and a slow (wireless) connection,” he said.

他说：“我们正在测试5G从传感器更快地传输数据的能力，而不是通过农场的个人电脑和缓慢的（无线）网络。”

Forbes added that the experiment provides strong evidence that 5G technology can be widely used in the future “not just on farms, but in rural communities right across the country.”

福布斯补充说，这项实验提供了强有力的证据，表明5G技术在未来可以普及，“不仅适用于农场，也能推广至全国各地的农村社区。”

Other technology tools powering the 5G smart farms include automated brushes that turn on when the cow rubs up against them. Sensors also control the amount of light to the cows’ living areas depending on the weather. And, an automatic feeding system makes sure the animals always get enough to eat.

其他为5G智能农场提供动力的技术工具包括自动刷，当奶牛碰触时，自动刷会立即启动。传感器还可以根据天气情况控制奶牛生活区的采光量。而且，一个自动喂食系统可以确保动物随时有足够的食物充饥。

Nick Chrissos works on the project for Cisco. He said the system can connect every cow, and every other animal on the whole farm. “That’s what 5G can do for farming - really unleash the power that we have within this farm, everywhere around the United Kingdom, and everywhere around the world.”

尼克·克里斯索斯(Nick Chrissos)负责思科的这一项目。他说，这个系统可以连接到整座农场里的每一头奶牛和其他动物。“这就是5G技术在农业领域的成就——真正释放出我们在这座农场，在英国乃至世界各地所拥有的力量。”

Words in This Story

automate – v. control something using machines and not people

reward – n. something good that is received for working hard or behaving well

collar – n. a narrow piece of leather or plastic attached to an animal’s neck

transmit – v. send or broadcast

brush – n. object used to tidy hair or fur

unleash – v. suddenly cause a strong reaction