VOA慢速英语2017--迪士尼魔法:全屋家电隔空无线充电

 

The Walt Disney Company has built a room that it says can wirelessly² power and charge any devices inside it.

Wireless¹ charging usually only works when a device is touching³ a power source. But researchers say they have found a way to provide wireless power and charging capability⁴ to large areas.

A scientific team from Disney Research recently demonstrated the technology. Alanson Sample is the lead researcher at Disney Research. He explained the goal of the project in a video.

“What we really want is a three-dimensional charging experience where you walk into your living room or office and your cellphone is charged simply by walking in.”

Sample said the idea of wireless power goes way back to the turn of the 1900s. This is when famous scientific inventor Nikola Tesla proposed a method to send wireless power all over the world. His plan, which involved a giant tower built in New York, was not a success.

But the Disney team said it was inspired by Telsa’s early efforts to develop a new system for wireless electricity. The process uses magnetic fields to send power to specially⁵ designed receivers.

Researchers built a 54-cubic-meter room in which the walls, floor and ceiling were covered with metal panels. They placed a long copper⁶ pipe in the middle of the room.

Electrical currents travel up and down this pole about 1.3 million times per second. These currents also move through the ceiling, walls and floor, before flowing again up the pole.

Small devices inside the pole set the level of electromagnetic waves. These waves continuously move around the room to send power to receiving devices.

The Disney researchers said repeated experiments led to successful wireless power transfers to many devices running at the same time.

One of the dangers of electric fields is that they can be harmful to humans. But associate research scientist Matt Chabalko said the level of power being generated inside the room is not dangerous.

“Our simulations show that we can transmit 1.9 kilowatts⁷ of power while meeting federal safety guidelines. This means it’s completely safe for people to occupy this space for any amount of time.”

The experiments also showed that furniture inside the room was not damaged and did not block the wireless energy.

Researchers say they believe the technology can be made to fit into small boxes or be used in large buildings.

One of Disney’s likely uses for wireless power will be to create areas at its parks where visitors can charge their devices.

Words in This Story

capability – n. ability or power to do something

three-dimensional – adj. having or seeming to have length, width and depth

copper – n. metal that allows heat and electricity to easily pass through it

pipe – n. long tube that can carry water, gas, etc.

pole – n. long, straight piece of wood, metal, etc.placed in the ground, usually standing⁸ up straight

inspire – v. make someone want to do something

simulation – n. something made to behave or look like something real, but which is not

occupy – v. spend time in a place or to live there

furniture – n. chairs, tables, beds, etc., used inside a room

1 wireless   

adj.无线的；n.无线电

参考例句：

• There are a lot of wireless links in a radio.收音机里有许多无线电线路。
• Wireless messages tell us that the ship was sinking.无线电报告知我们那艘船正在下沉。

2 wirelessly   

不用电线的，用无线电波传送的

参考例句：

• I heard it on the wireless. 我是从无线电收音机里听到的。
• There are a lot of wireless links in a radio. 收音机里有许多无线电线路。

3 touching   

adj.动人的，使人感伤的

参考例句：

• It was a touching sight.这是一幅动人的景象。
• His letter was touching.他的信很感人。

4 capability   

n.能力；才能；(pl)可发展的能力或特性等

参考例句：

• She has the capability to become a very fine actress.她有潜力成为杰出演员。
• Organizing a whole department is beyond his capability.组织整个部门是他能力以外的事。

5 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。

6 copper   

n.铜；铜币；铜器；adj.铜(制)的；(紫)铜色的

参考例句：

• The students are asked to prove the purity of copper.要求学生们检验铜的纯度。
• Copper is a good medium for the conduction of heat and electricity.铜是热和电的良导体。

7 kilowatts   

千瓦( kilowatt的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• It's about 500 kilowatts per hour on average. 年用电量平均为每小时500千瓦。 来自商贸英语会话
• We have an emergency-standby electric generator with a capacity of 300 kilowatts. 我们有一台三百千瓦的事故备用发电机。

8 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。