VOA慢速英语2021 加州的Iron Ox公司让机器人种植蔬菜

A California company is using robots to grow plants in greenhouses that it says use 90 percent less water than traditional farms.

加利福尼亚州一家公司正在使用机器人在温室里种植植物，该公司称，温室的用水量比传统农场少90%。

The company, Iron Ox, operates several greenhouses and has plans to expand.

这家名为Iron Ox的公司经营着几个温室，并计划扩大规模。

It recently announced a new $50 million investment.

该公司最近宣布了一项5000万美元的新投资。

The financing was led by Breakthrough Energy Ventures, a company established by Microsoft founder¹ Bill Gates.

这次融资是由微软创始人比尔·盖茨创立的突破能源投资基金牵头的。

At a 930-square meter center in Gilroy, California, Iron Ox uses a self-driving robot named Grover to transport containers of plants.

在加利福尼亚州吉尔罗伊的一个930平方米的中心，Iron Ox 使用一个名为Grover的自动驾驶机器人来运输植物容器。

The large greenhouse uses hydroponics, a system designed to grow plants in materials other than soil, such as water.

这个大型温室使用水培，这是一种旨在用土壤以外的材料（如水）种植植物的系统。

The company says each container, known as a module², carries 30 liters of water and about 70 seedlings³ as it moves.

该公司表示，每个被称为模块的容器在移动过程中携带30升水和大约70棵幼苗。

Another machine uses robotic arms to lift the top of the plants out of the water.

另一台机器使用机械臂将植物的顶部抬出水面。

This permits the roots to be inspected.

这样就可以检查根部了。

Sensors⁴ also examine the water, measuring levels of nitrogen and acidity⁵.

传感器还会检测水中的氮含量和酸度。

Iron Ox claims the system uses 90 percent less water than traditional farms, as well as 90 percent less electricity than indoor farms using LED lights.

Iron Ox声称，该系统比传统农场少用90%的水，比使用LED灯的室内农场少用90%的电。

LED stands for light emitting diode, which produces light up to 90 percent more efficiently⁶ than regular lights.

LED是发光二极管的缩写，其发光效率比普通灯高出90%。

Sarah Osentoski is the company's senior vice⁷ president of engineering.

萨拉·奥森托斯基是该公司负责工程的高级副总裁。

She told Reuters news agency she believes robots like these can help prepare for a more sustainable future.

她告诉路透社，她认为像这样的机器人会有助于为更可持续的未来做准备。

"I think it's a really exciting way we can move forward in agriculture right now," Osentoski said.

奥森托斯基说：“我认为这是一种我们现在可以在农业上前进的非常令人兴奋的方式。”

"I really believe that we need to grow in a way that could feed the future of the world without hurting the Earth," she added.

她补充说：“我真的认为，我们需要以一种既能养活世界的未来，又不会伤害地球的方式来实现增长。”

"So, a big part of our mission is to grow more with less."

“因此，我们的一个重要使命就是用更少的资源实现更多的增长。”

The company notes that in its greenhouses, any water not used can be pumped back into the system to be reused later.

该公司指出，在温室里，任何没有用过的水都可以被抽回系统，供以后重复使用。

Agriculture is an important part of California's economy.

农业是加利福尼亚州经济的重要组成部分。

But water usage has increasingly become a concern.

但水的使用越来越成为一个令人担忧的问题。

The last major drought in 2012-2017 cut water for farmers, forced household usage limits and fueled deadly wildfires.

上一次发生在2012-2017年的严重干旱导致农民缺水，迫使家庭限制用水，并引发了致命的野火。

Iron Ox currently grows Thai basil and strawberries and is working on cilantro, parsley, and tomatoes.

Iron Ox 目前种植泰国罗勒和草莓，并正在研究种植香菜、欧芹和西红柿。

The company plans to build a new 50,000-square-meter greenhouse in Lockhart, Texas.

该公司计划在得克萨斯州洛克哈特新建一个5万平方米的温室。

There, the robots will be moving about 5,400 modules⁸.

在那里，机器人将移动大约5400个模块。

Iron Ox CEO Brandon Alexander told Reuters that building the company has been "an eye opener" for him and others.

Iron Ox首席执行官布兰登·亚历山大对路透社表示，建立这家公司让他和其他人“大开眼界”。

"I think we're now at a stage where most people understand that conditions are only getting worse," he said.

他说：“我认为我们现在正处于一个大多数人都明白情况只会越来越糟的阶段。”

The system includes another inspection⁹ station that uses overhead cameras to capture three-dimensional (3D) images of the plant.

该系统包括另一个检测站，该检测站使用空中摄像机捕捉植物的三维图像。

Scientists use this data to study crop production levels.

科学家利用这些数据来研究农作物的产量。

"We want to give each plant exactly what it needs and nothing it doesn't," Alexander said.

亚历山大说：“我们想给每一株植物提供它真正需要的东西，而不是它不需要的东西。”

After the sensors examine the plants, the system provides suggestions for what is missing.

在传感器检查完植物后，系统就会为植物缺失的东西提供建议。

"What does that plant need that we're not giving it."

“那棵植物需要什么，而我们没有给它。”

Sarah Osentoski sees the robotic, indoor system expanding in the coming years to become a scalable model.

萨拉·奥森托斯基认为，机器人室内系统在未来几年将会扩大，成为一种可扩展的模型。

"I think it's a really interesting way to bring modern technology in a controlled setting to agriculture.

她说：“我认为这是一种非常有趣的方式，可以在可控的环境下将现代技术引入农业。

And it lets us do things that grow in ways that are really unique and different," she said.

它让我们以真正独特和不同的方式实现增长。”

1 Founder   

n.创始者，缔造者

参考例句：

• He was extolled as the founder of their Florentine school.他被称颂为佛罗伦萨画派的鼻祖。
• According to the old tradition,Romulus was the founder of Rome.按照古老的传说，罗穆卢斯是古罗马的建国者。

2 module   

n.组件，模块，模件；(航天器的)舱

参考例句：

• The centre module displays traffic guidance information.中央模块显示交通引导信息。
• Two large tanks in the service module held liquid oxygen.服务舱的两个大气瓶中装有液态氧。

3 seedlings   

n.刚出芽的幼苗( seedling的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Ninety-five per cent of the new seedlings have survived. 新栽的树苗95%都已成活。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• In such wet weather we must prevent the seedlings from rotting. 这样的阴雨天要防止烂秧。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

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 acidity   

n.酸度，酸性

参考例句：

• This plant prefers alkaline soil,though it will readily tolerate some acidity.这种植物在酸性土壤中也能生存，但硷性土壤更加适宜。
• Gastric acidity would not prevent the organism from passing into the gut.胃的酸度不能防止细菌进入肠道。

6 efficiently   

adv.高效率地，有能力地

参考例句：

• The worker oils the machine to operate it more efficiently.工人给机器上油以使机器运转更有效。
• Local authorities have to learn to allocate resources efficiently.地方政府必须学会有效地分配资源。

7 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

8 modules   

n.模块( module的名词复数 )；单元；（宇宙飞船上各个独立的）舱；组件

参考例句：

• The course consists of ten core modules and five optional modules. 这门课程包括十个必修单元和五个选修单元。
• Our English course is divided into modules on poetry, drama, and novels. 我们的英语课分为诗歌、戏剧和小说等单元。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 inspection   

n.检查，审查，检阅

参考例句：

• On random inspection the meat was found to be bad.经抽查，发现肉变质了。
• The soldiers lined up for their daily inspection by their officers.士兵们列队接受军官的日常检阅。