越来越接近现实的未来交通

Futuristic Transport System Moves Closer to Reality 越来越接近现实的未来交通

In the United States, a company is working on a project that could change the way we think about public transportation. Its planned system would move people around in steel tubes. Those passengers would be traveling at speeds of up to 1,200 kilometers per hour.

在美国，一家公司正从事一个可能会改变我们对公共交通看法的项目，该公司规划的系统将通过管道运送旅客，旅客们将以时速1200公里的速度旅行。

The futuristic steel tube transportation system is called Hyperloop. Workers plan to test the system next year in a specially¹ built community called Quay² Valley. The town will be powered entirely³ by energy from the sun.

这种未来主义的管道交通系统名叫“超回路”，工人们计划明年在一个专门建造的名叫码头谷的社区测试该系统，该镇将完全使用太阳能动力。

The Hyperloop transport system is the idea of businessman Elon Musk⁴. Dirk Ahlborn is head of Hyperloop Transportation Technologies. He says his company has taken Mr. Musk’s idea and is developing a system that will be safe, environmentally friendly and fast.

这种超回路运输系统是商人伊隆·马斯克的创意，德克·爱尔邦是超回路运输技术公司负责人，他说本公司采用了马斯克的创意，正在开发一个安全、环保和快速的系统。

"It's 100 percent solar powered…we're not going to get up to 760 miles per hour, but we believe we can actually break the records that are existing right now."

“该系统完全依靠太阳能，我们不准备将速度提高到每小时760公里，但我们相信可以打破现有记录。”

This means that a four-hour drive from Los Angeles, California to Las Vegas, Nevada, could someday take only 30 minutes by Hyperloop.

这意味着有一天从加州洛杉矶到内华达的拉斯维加斯原本四小时的车程在使用超回路时只需30分钟。

The system involves a series of capsules that float inside a long tube. These containers would not need to travel along a pathway or track. The system has been designed to operate above or below ground.

该系统包括漂浮在长管道中的一系列胶囊车厢，这些车厢无需沿着轨道行驶，该系统被设计成在地面或地下运行。

"Inside the tube you create a low pressure environment very similar to an airplane that's at high altitudes. So now the capsule travelling inside the tube doesn't encounter⁵ as much resistance⁶, and therefore can travel really fast with very little energy."

“在管道内我们将制造类似高空中飞机所处的低压环境，所以现在管道内的胶囊旅行不会遇到多少阻力，因此可以用很少的能量快速行驶。”

Dick Ahlborn and his company will use an eight-kilometer track in Quay Valley to find the best way to set up passenger traffic and repair capsules. A larger system will cost an estimated⁷ six to $10 billion to build.

德克·爱尔邦和他的公司将使用码头谷的一条长8公里的轨道来寻找制定乘客交通和修复胶囊的最佳办法，建造更大的系统大概需要60到100亿美元。

If Mr. Ahlborn and his company succeed, we may one day see these very fast Hyperloop capsules speeding through tubes around the world.

如果德克·爱尔邦和他的公司能够成功，我们可能有一天能看到这些非常快速的超回路胶囊在全世界的管道中飞驰。

Words in this Story

altitude – n. the height of something such as an airplane above the level of the sea

capsule – n. a small container that has something inside of it

1 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。

2 quay   

n.码头，靠岸处

参考例句：

• There are all kinds of ships in a quay.码头停泊各式各样的船。
• The side of the boat hit the quay with a grinding jar.船舷撞到码头发出刺耳的声音。

3 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

4 musk   

n.麝香, 能发出麝香的各种各样的植物，香猫

参考例句：

• Musk is used for perfume and stimulant.麝香可以用作香料和兴奋剂。
• She scented her clothes with musk.她用麝香使衣服充满了香味。

5 encounter   

v.遇到，偶然碰到；遭遇；n.遭遇；意外的相见

参考例句：

• It was a bloody encounter between the two armies. 这是那两军之间的一次激烈的遭遇战。
• A fortunate encounter brought the two friends together after a long separation.两位老朋友长期分离这次才有幸相遇。

6 resistance   

n.抵抗力，反抗，反抗行动；阻力，电阻；反对；adj.抵抗的

参考例句：

• Very little resistance was put up by the enemy.敌人没怎么进行抵抗。
• An aircraft has to overcome the resistance of the air.飞机须克服空气的阻力。

7 estimated   

adj．根据估计的

参考例句：

• She estimated the breadth of the lake to be 500 metres. 她估计湖面大约有500米宽。
• The man estimated for the repair of the car. 那人估算了修理汽车的费用。