VOA慢速英语2019 机械人短裤可令行走和跑步更节能

Robotic Shorts Can Extend Energy for Walking or Running

Researchers have created a wearable device they say can extend energy while providing assistance for walking and running.

研究人员开辟出一种可穿戴设备，他们说这种设备可以削减能量耗损，同时为行走或跑步供给辅助。

The robotic device, called an exosuit, is described in a study in the magazine Science. Researchers from Harvard University’s Wyss Institute say the exosuit demonstrates great possibilities for future inventions of lightweight wearables that could have mass appeal.

这个机械人设备名为机械护甲，《科学》期刊上发表的一篇研究对其进行了介绍。哈佛大学威斯研究所的研究人员表示，机械护甲的研发证明，将来发明出极具吸引力的轻薄型可穿戴设备的可能性极大。

Many wearable assistive devices developed in the past have been designed mainly to help people with physical disabilities. The new exosuits could also help disabled people. However, they could also provide energy and speed to everyone.

此前开辟的大多数可穿戴辅助设备的主要目标是帮助伤残人士。而这一新型机械护甲不仅能帮助残疾人士。还能为所有人供给能量和速度。

The device is about five kilograms. It was built to be “simplified and nonrestrictive” compared to other wearable devices.

该设备大约重5公斤。与其他可穿戴设备相比，这一设备要更简化、不约束。

The robotic shorts are made of soft, stretchy material. A computer and motor control the device, which attaches around the waist and thighs¹. Cables connect the motor to the user’s upper leg. With each step, the system creates pressure on the cables. This gives power to the upper leg muscles.

机械人短裤由柔嫩且可伸展的材料制成。该设备由连接在腰部和大腿附近的计较机和电机节制。电缆将电机和利用者的大腿相连。利用者每走一步，该系统都会在电缆上产生压力。这继而会为大腿肌肉注入力量。

The team called its system a “breakthrough” in wearable technology. One reason for this is that it is very difficult to build a device to assist both walking and running. Past developments have centered on either activity, but not both.

研发团队称这一系统是可穿戴手艺领域的“重大突破”。其中一个原因是，开辟出既能辅助行走又能辅助跑步的设备很是难。以前的开辟均集中在一种勾当上，没有聚焦过两种勾当。

Walking and running use different hip² movements, also known as a person’s gait. The new exosuit uses sensors³ and an algorithm to help it recognize which gait is being used. The device then attempts to provide assistance with walking or running motions.

行走和跑步的送髋动作不同，这也被称为小我步态。新型机械护甲利用传感器和算法来帮助设备识别利用者用了哪一种步态。随后，设备会试图为行走或跑步的动作供给辅助。

The study found that a main result of this assistance is a reduction in the “metabolic⁴ cost” to a walker or runner. Metabolism⁵ is the process by which living things turn food into energy. A reduced metabolic rate means a person will use less energy while performing a physical activity.

这项研究发现，这种辅助的主要功能是削减人们在行走或跑步时的“代谢值”。新陈代谢是生命将食物转化成能量的过程。代谢率降低意味着人们在进行体育勾当时所用的能量削减了。

In tests, the exosuit reduced the metabolic rate of walking by 9.3 percent, the researchers said. For running, the metabolic cost dropped about 4 percent. Less energy was required in tests involving flat surfaces as well as on hills, the study found.

研究人员表示，在测试中，机械护甲将行走的代谢率降低了9.3%。跑步的代谢值则降低了约4%。研究发现，无论是在平地仍是山区测试，该设备都能降低所需能量。

Conor Walsh is a professor at the Wyss Institute. He helped lead the study. He admitted that the metabolic reductions were not huge. But he said the research presents possibilities for further development in wearable device technology.

康诺·沃尔什是威斯研究所的一名教授。他协助负责开展该研究。他认可代谢降低的幅度并不大。但他表示，这项研究提出了可穿戴设备手艺进一步发展的可能性。

Walsh said the study demonstrates that a lightweight wearable assisting device can help “pave the way for these systems to become ubiquitous in our lives.”

沃尔什表示，该研究表明，轻薄型可穿戴辅助设备有助于“为这些系统成为我们糊口中无处不在的存在铺平道路。”

The researchers noted⁶ that the lower metabolic rates also have the effect of making a person feel lighter⁷. The testing showed that a person walking with the device would feel 7.4 kilograms lighter. A runner would feel 5.7 kilograms lighter.

研究人员指出，代谢率降低还能令人们感觉更轻盈。测试表明，穿上这个设备行走时，人们会感觉减重了 7.4 公斤。而跑步时则会感觉减重了5.7公斤。

The team is still doing research. No devices are currently available to the public. One of the team’s major goals is to reduce the weight of the device by at least 40 percent. Researchers also plan to add more individualized assistance possibilities. They also hope to improve the system to fit as many uses as possible.

该团队仍在进行研究。目前没有可供公家利用的设备。该团队的其中一个主要目标是，将这一设备的重量至少削减40%。研究人员还计划添加更多个性化辅助功能。他们还希望能改进系统，使其尽可能适合更多利用者。

In addition to people with disabilities, the team hopes the devices can help people at risk for work injuries as well as those who just want to improve their physical performance.

除了残疾人之外，该团队希望设备还能帮助有受工伤风险和希望提高体能的人群。

Words in This Story

cable – n.a thick, strong wire

breakthrough – n.an important discovery of development

algorithm – n.a set of steps that are followed in order to solve a mathematical problem or to complete a computer process

pave the way – phrase.to make another thing possible

ubiquitous– adj.seeming to be everywhere

1 thighs   

n.股，大腿( thigh的名词复数 )；食用的鸡（等的）腿

参考例句：

• He's gone to London for skin grafts on his thighs. 他去伦敦做大腿植皮手术了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The water came up to the fisherman's thighs. 水没到了渔夫的大腿。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 hip   

n.臀部，髋；屋脊

参考例句：

• The thigh bone is connected to the hip bone.股骨连着髋骨。
• The new coats blouse gracefully above the hip line.新外套在臀围线上优美地打着褶皱。

3 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

4 metabolic   

adj.新陈代谢的

参考例句：

• Impressive metabolic alternations have been undergone during embryogenesis.在胚胎发生期间经历了深刻的代谢变化。
• A number of intoxicants are associated with metabolic acidosis.许多毒性物质可引起代谢性酸中毒。

5 metabolism   

n.新陈代谢

参考例句：

• After years of dieting,Carol's metabolism was completely out of whack.经过数年的节食，卡罗尔的新陈代谢完全紊乱了。
• All living matter undergoes a process of metabolism.生物都有新陈代谢。

6 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。

7 lighter   

n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级

参考例句：

• The portrait was touched up so as to make it lighter.这张画经过润色，色调明朗了一些。
• The lighter works off the car battery.引燃器利用汽车蓄电池打火。