VOA常速英语2013--美国民用无人机等待相关规定（在线收听）

In US, Civilian Use of Drones Awaits Regulations 美国民用无人机等待相关规定

Judging by the number of autonomous vehicles displayed at the recent international exhibition in Washington, unmanned aerial vehicles or drones are here to stay. But their extensive use in the commercial sector is hindered by the slow introduction of rules and regulations. 

Drones have many advantages. They are cheaper to purchase, operate and service than piloted aircraft. 

无人机具有很多优势。价格，运作及服务比有人驾驶飞机都要便宜。

They can be sent on dangerous missions without putting a crew in harm's way.  

他们可以应对各种危险任务而不伤害驾驶员。

And drones have potential way beyond the military.

而且无人机除了用于军事还有别的潜能。

They could help find hikers lost in the wilderness, monitor crops, manage wildlife, spray vineyards, deliver medicine, explore for oil, monitor power lines, even deliver takeout. 

他们可以帮助找寻迷失在旷野的徒步旅行者,监测作物、管理野生动物,喷雾葡萄园,提供药品、钻探石油,监测输电线路甚至提供外卖服务。

The main obstacle for civilian use of drones in the United States is the lack of regulations. 

但在美国无人机民用所面临的主要问题是相关规定的缺乏。

The Federal Aviation Administration regulates U.S. airspace and allows a restricted use of drones in areas of low air traffic, like Alaska. 

美国联邦航空管理局监管美国领空并且允许像是在阿拉斯加的低空交通领域无人机的限制使用。

Operators must request an Experimental Airworthiness Certificate to fly a drone. The FAA said that precludes "carrying people or property for compensation or hire, but allows operations for research and development, flight and sales demonstrations and crew training.” 

操作者们必须申请一张实验性适航证书飞才可让无人机飞行。联邦航空管理局表示除了“携带人员或赔偿财产或雇佣,但允许进行研究，发展,航运，销售展示及船员培训的飞行。”

That's what AeroVironment plans to do with its popular drone called the Puma, explained David Heidel, the company's marketing manager.

这就是AeroVironment对其被称为美洲狮的流行无人机计划要做的, 公司的营销经理大卫·海德尔解释道。

“As announced a couple of weeks ago we will seek the restricted category classification from the FAA that allows us to fly the Puma in the Arctic region, and there we would target oil spill monitoring, wildlife monitoring, coastal monitoring."

“几周前我们宣布将寻求美国联邦航空局限制类别分类允许我们的美洲狮在北极地区飞行,而我们将目标定位于石油泄漏、野生动物及沿海监测。”

The exhibit at Washington’s Convention Center was full of unmanned airplanes and helicopters, but also remote-controlled and autonomous ground-based and underwater craft. 

在华盛顿会议中心的这一展览充满了无人驾驶飞机和直升机,还有遥控，自主地面及水下技术产品。

Manufacturers point out that their vehicles, designed for the military, can be converted for civilian use.

制造商指出他们专为军事设计的飞机可以转换成民用型。

“Aerial view, law enforcement, military, border patrol, fire departments. We cater to military now, and border patrol, as well as fire departments, law enforcement," Jason Rittenhour, an engineer with Applied Research Associates said. "There is a huge interest for law enforcement, especially SWAT teams, being able to get the aerial view that they want.”

“空中鸟瞰,执法,军队、边境巡逻、消防部门。我们现在迎合军队需求用于边境巡逻,以及消防环节,执法等。”应用研究协会工程师杰森·里特奥尔说道。“这将非常有利于执法,特别是特警,能够得到他们想要的鸟瞰图。”

But the process for allowing more commercial use of drones is advancing more slowly than the technology because the FAA hasn't developed policies to protect the privacy of Americans. 

但是允许更多的商业使用无人机的过程推进速度比技术更为缓慢,因为美国联邦航空局还不具备发达的政策以保护美国人的隐私。

Congress may consider a bill to stop the process until the FAA completes a report on the potential privacy issues related to drones.

国会可能会考虑一项法案来阻止这一进程，直到FAA完成无人机相关潜在隐私问题的报告。

In the meantime, manufacturers will continue to depend on military and law enforcement purchases.

与此同时,制造商门将继续依靠军事和执法的购买。