AS IT IS 2016-10-03 Newest Service Robots Act Like Humans

AS IT IS 2016-10-03 Newest Service Robots Act Like Humans

Machines are now doing many jobs usually performed by people.

One new invention is a machine that operates cars and other vehicles in parking garages. Another kind of robot can transport food or medicine in some hospitals.

Robots are now used at a new parking garage in West Hollywood, California. Drivers drop off their vehicles in front of the building, and the robots take over from there.

The vehicles are lifted and transported by large machines controlled by computers. The computers record the exact measurements of the automobile¹ and take it to the best available space. The robots can leave cars within centimeters of each other without any mistakes.

Car owner Johnny D’Agostino said he feels good knowing that a machine is moving his vehicle.

“I take my keys and I don’t got to worry about a valet taking my car. I don’t got to worry about someone scratching my car.”

When people return to the garage, they use a ticket to pay for the safe return of the vehicle. The robot then retrieves³ the car and returns it to the driver.

Environment friendly

The 200-car parking lot is the first of its kind in West Hollywood. The city’s mayor, Lauren Meister, says the system is easy to use, and reduces air pollution.

“You don’t have people going and parking their own cars so the ventilation system is different, and we are literally⁴ saving hundreds and hundreds of trees.”

City officials say the garage cost about 18 million dollars. This is only a little higher than the usual price, since the building does not need extended lighting⁵ systems or walkways for humans to use.

Another kind of robot is being used to carry food and medicine in some hospitals and retirement⁶ homes. The automated⁷ carriers make deliveries to let workers spend more time with patients.

GoCart carries food, medicine

The robotic GoCart can recognize people and equipment, and move around them to reach its target. Marcus Liebhardt helped develop the robot.

“We drive through the hallways, and during that phase the robot generates a map. Once the robot learns the map, it is able to navigate⁸ itself.”

The GoCart can operate alone or be used in a group of robots that communicate with each other. Liebhardt said the robot is good at recognizing possible hazards and avoiding them.

“So if people jump in its way, kids jumping around the robot, then the robot will stop in time to avoid any collision. And it will also, if possible, re-plan its route, move around people.”

The South Korean manufacturer, Yujin, says the GoCart is good at performing the same activity over and over again. So it hopes the robots will be used in other medical settings in the future.

Words in This Story

deliver – v. to take something to a person or place

garage – n. building where cars, trucks, etc. are kept

valet – n. person who parks cars for guests at businesses

retrieve² – v. to get something after finding it

ventilation – n. – a system that delivers fresh air

navigate – v. to find the right way to move through maps or equipment

hazard – n. something very dangerous

collision – n. a crash between two vehicles

scratch – v. to rub a surface with something sharp

1 automobile   

n.汽车，机动车

参考例句：

• He is repairing the brake lever of an automobile.他正在修理汽车的刹车杆。
• The automobile slowed down to go around the curves in the road.汽车在路上转弯时放慢了速度。

2 retrieve   

vt.重新得到，收回；挽回，补救；检索

参考例句：

• He was determined to retrieve his honor.他决心恢复名誉。
• The men were trying to retrieve weapons left when the army abandoned the island.士兵们正试图找回军队从该岛撤退时留下的武器。

3 retrieves   

v.取回( retrieve的第三人称单数 )；恢复；寻回；检索（储存的信息）

参考例句：

• The mole comes in later, retrieves the item and packs it back in his gear. 鼹鼠随后到达，找回东西然后用他的传送装置返回。 来自电影对白
• Retrieves the pitch of the current image, in bytes. 得到代表目前图像斜度的字节数。 来自互联网

4 literally   

adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实

参考例句：

• He translated the passage literally.他逐字逐句地翻译这段文字。
• Sometimes she would not sit down till she was literally faint.有时候，她不走到真正要昏厥了，决不肯坐下来。

5 lighting   

n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光

参考例句：

• The gas lamp gradually lost ground to electric lighting.煤气灯逐渐为电灯所代替。
• The lighting in that restaurant is soft and romantic.那个餐馆照明柔和而且浪漫。

6 retirement   

n.退休，退职

参考例句：

• She wanted to enjoy her retirement without being beset by financial worries.她想享受退休生活而不必为金钱担忧。
• I have to put everything away for my retirement.我必须把一切都积蓄起来以便退休后用。

7 automated   

a.自动化的

参考例句：

• The entire manufacturing process has been automated. 整个生产过程已自动化。
• Automated Highway System (AHS) is recently regarded as one subsystem of Intelligent Transport System (ITS). 近年来自动公路系统(Automated Highway System,AHS)，作为智能运输系统的子系统之一越来越受到重视。

8 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。