VOA科学技术2024--Airbus Truck Fitted with Airplane Controls to Test Self-taxiing

European aerospace¹ company Airbus has fitted a special truck with airplane controls in an effort to test self-taxiing abilities.

Airbus officials recently introduced the truck in Paris at Europe's largest technology event, VivaTech. The electric vehicle can drive like a truck, or it can activate² the aircraft system controls.

A demonstration³ showed how the truck works. It uses numerous cameras and sensors⁴ to help follow airport direction signals and avoid obstacles as computers guide the vehicle along its path.

In a statement, Airbus described the effort as a three-year research project called Optimate. The goal is to deploy⁵ and test the best technologies to help aircraft better recognize their surroundings and current operating conditions.

In addition, the company said detailed⁶ data from the experiments will be examined to help develop pilot assistance systems for airport taxiing.

The technology demonstration came after several incidents of airplanes crashing on the ground at airports. One of those happened in January, when a Japanese Airlines Airbus350 was landing and hit a coast guard plane already on the runway.

An investigation⁷ was launched last month after a British Airways⁸ jet struck a stationary⁹ Virgin¹⁰ Atlantic plane at London's Heathrow Airport. That crash caused only minor¹¹ damage to both aircraft.

And in February, U.S. investigators¹² said they were looking into a crash involving two JetBlue planes at Logan International Airport in Boston.

Airbus officials have said they hope the specially¹³ designed truck can show how self-taxiing, or automation, technology can help safely guide costly¹⁴ jets through increasingly crowded airports. The vehicle uses multiple technologies related to automation, navigation and artificial intelligence (AI).

Matthieu Gallas is the head of automation research at UpNext, a special technology research laboratory for Airbus. He told Reuters news agency, "These use cases are much more critical and complicated compared to those of the car industry."

Slow-speed airport crash incidents rarely result in serious injuries or deaths. But they represent a costly and growing problem for airlines, airports, insurers and passengers. Such incidents can cause major passenger delays. They also can lead to costly plane repairs.

The chief executive of UpNext is Michael Augello. He said in a statement that a big aim of the Optimate project is to demonstrate a new system to support "safer and more efficient air travel."

The UpNext team says the refitted truck is to be tested live at airports in preparation for testing A350-1000 aircraft in the future.

Company officials say if the airport tests are successful, the project could also result in airplane design changes. But getting such systems approved can be a long and difficult process.

Gallas said Airbus jets already use some automation technologies to limit pilot error. But those systems are not considered fully¹⁵ autonomous¹⁶. In other words, they can only predict and behave in certain situations.

The testing truck is equipped with light-based LiDAR technology. LiDAR uses a series of sensors and light lasers that can measure distances and produce three-dimensional (3D) maps of the surrounding environment.

Airbus said the research vehicle is expected to explore progressively higher levels of automation as the experiments continue. The company noted¹⁷ it has no immediate¹⁸ plans to introduce autonomous jetliners to the skies.

Karim Mokaddem is a former automobile¹⁹ executive. He now leads research and technology for Airbus. He told Reuters he thinks LiDAR will be the most effective technology for the testing vehicle.

The possible use of LiDAR to improve aircraft safety recently received attention after severe turbulence²⁰ hit a Singapore Airlines jet. That incident left one passenger dead and several others injured.

Researchers have looked at LiDAR technology as a possible way to identify and track possibly dangerous air currents that may not be picked up by radar²¹ equipment.

Reuters reported that Boeing began testing such a system in 2018. Technology experts are looking to possibly expand LiDAR as a tool to help predict turbulence.

Words in This Story

efficient - adj. working well and not wasting time or energy

obstacle - n. a barrier that makes it difficult to get something done

navigation - n. a system to find the right direction to travel by using maps or electronic equipment

taxi - n. the movement of an aircraft as it drives on the ground after landing

complicated - adj. involving a lot of different parts or information that is difficult to understand

turbulence - n. unsteady or violent movement of air or water

track - v. follow something closely

1 aerospace   

adj.航空的，宇宙航行的

参考例句：

• The world's entire aerospace industry is feeling the chill winds of recession.全世界的航空航天工业都感受到了经济衰退的寒意。
• Edward Murphy was an aerospace engineer for the US Army.爱德华·墨菲是一名美军的航宇工程师。

2 activate   

vt.使活动起来，使开始起作用

参考例句：

• We must activate the youth to study.我们要激励青年去学习。
• These push buttons can activate the elevator.这些按钮能启动电梯。

3 demonstration   

n.表明，示范，论证，示威

参考例句：

• His new book is a demonstration of his patriotism.他写的新书是他的爱国精神的证明。
• He gave a demonstration of the new technique then and there.他当场表演了这种新的操作方法。

4 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

5 deploy   

v.（军）散开成战斗队形，布置，展开

参考例句：

• The infantry began to deploy at dawn.步兵黎明时开始进入战斗位置。
• The president said he had no intention of deploying ground troops.总统称并不打算部署地面部队。

6 detailed   

adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的

参考例句：

• He had made a detailed study of the terrain.他对地形作了缜密的研究。
• A detailed list of our publications is available on request.我们的出版物有一份详细的目录备索。

7 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

8 AIRWAYS   

航空公司

参考例句：

• The giant jets that increasingly dominate the world's airways. 越来越称雄于世界航线的巨型喷气机。
• At one point the company bought from Nippon Airways a 727 jet. 有一次公司从日本航空公司买了一架727型喷气机。

9 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。

10 virgin   

n.处女，未婚女子；adj.未经使用的；未经开发的

参考例句：

• Have you ever been to a virgin forest?你去过原始森林吗？
• There are vast expanses of virgin land in the remote regions.在边远地区有大片大片未开垦的土地。

11 minor   

adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修

参考例句：

• The young actor was given a minor part in the new play.年轻的男演员在这出新戏里被分派担任一个小角色。
• I gave him a minor share of my wealth.我把小部分财产给了他。

12 investigators   

n.调查者，审查者( investigator的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• This memo could be the smoking gun that investigators have been looking for. 这份备忘录可能是调查人员一直在寻找的证据。
• The team consisted of six investigators and two secretaries. 这个团队由六个调查人员和两个秘书组成。 来自《简明英汉词典》

13 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。

14 costly   

adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的

参考例句：

• It must be very costly to keep up a house like this.维修这么一幢房子一定很昂贵。
• This dictionary is very useful,only it is a bit costly.这本词典很有用，左不过贵了些。

15 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

16 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。

17 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

18 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

19 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。

20 turbulence   

n.喧嚣，狂暴，骚乱，湍流

参考例句：

• The turbulence caused the plane to turn over.空气的激流导致飞机翻转。
• The world advances amidst turbulence.世界在动荡中前进。

21 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。