2007年VOA标准英语-Students Design, Maneuver Robots in California

By Mike O'Sullivan
Los Angeles
11 April 2007
 
Watch Robot report

Each year in March and April, competitions are held around the United States to test the skills of students in designing and using robots – machines that perform basic human tasks.   VOA's Mike O'Sullivan went to a recent competition in Los Angeles.

 
Team participating in robot competition
First, the students design and build their mechanical surrogates.  Then, using remote controls, the students operate the robots in a competition – maneuvering¹ the robots to grab inflated² hoops³ and slide them onto target posts in a special pattern.

Paul Gudonis is president of FIRST, a nonprofit organization that promotes science and technology, and sponsors the competition.

"We have got thousands of high school kids here who have built robots over the last six weeks,” he says.  “And they are competing to show that they have got what it takes to win this sport of the mind."

There is a carnival⁴ atmosphere, but competition is intense.

Leila Zheng of Toronto, Canada, a first-time participant, enjoys the interaction.  "Well, there is so much to learn from building the robot, from talking to the other teams and sponsors," she says.

Technology and aerospace⁵ companies, such as Northrop Grumman, sponsor the student entries.

Adam Hurd of Redondo Beach, California, has entered the competition each of his four years in high school.  "And there is so much to learn,” he says.  “There are so many areas of the robotics that you can study, anything you [want to] know.  You can transfer back and forth⁶ between things.  I started as a programmer and now I design the drive trains and do 3D design in computers and all that."

 
Competitor Alice Gray
Alice Gray of Arroyo⁷ Grande High School near Los Angeles is also here for her fourth year.  "The competitions, of course, are one of the most amazing things.  It's just so fun, the atmosphere, the energy, the thrill of competition.  It is amazing," she says.

Alice studied performing arts when she started high school, but the robotic competitions have changed her career goals.

"When I first started on the team, I was unsure of what I wanted to do,” she says.  “I had been on stage all my life, but I was thinking of going into psychology⁸ or something.   However, after my second year on the team, I now know for certain that I want to be an mechanical engineer."

The robotic competitions challenge participants to use their ingenuity⁹ and sharpen their reflexes.  Teams are rewarded for design, spirit, problem solving, maturity¹⁰, courtesy and professionalism.

More than 1,100 teams take part in regional competitions and a national championship.

1 maneuvering   

v.移动，用策略( maneuver的现在分词 )；操纵

参考例句：

• This Manstein did, with some brilliant maneuvering under the worse winter conditions. 曼施坦因在最恶劣的严冬条件下，出色地施展了灵活机动的战术，终于完成了任务。 来自辞典例句
• In short, large goals required farsighted policies, not tactical maneuvering. 一句话，大的目标需要有高瞻远瞩的政策，玩弄策略是不行的。 来自辞典例句

2 inflated   

adj.（价格）飞涨的；（通货）膨胀的；言过其实的；充了气的v.使充气（于轮胎、气球等）( inflate的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）膨胀；（使）通货膨胀；物价上涨

参考例句：

• He has an inflated sense of his own importance. 他自视过高。
• They all seem to take an inflated view of their collective identity. 他们对自己的集体身份似乎都持有一种夸大的看法。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 hoops   

n.箍( hoop的名词复数 )；（篮球）篮圈；（旧时儿童玩的）大环子；（两端埋在地里的）小铁弓

参考例句：

• a barrel bound with iron hoops 用铁箍箍紧的桶
• Hoops in Paris were wider this season and skirts were shorter. 在巴黎，这个季节的裙圈比较宽大，裙裾却短一些。 来自飘（部分）

4 carnival   

n.嘉年华会，狂欢，狂欢节，巡回表演

参考例句：

• I got some good shots of the carnival.我有几个狂欢节的精彩镜头。
• Our street puts on a carnival every year.我们街的居民每年举行一次嘉年华会。

5 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。

6 forth   

adv.向前；向外，往外

参考例句：

• The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
• He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。

7 arroyo   

n.干涸的河床，小河

参考例句：

• She continued along the path until she came to the arroyo.她沿着小路一直走到小河边。
• They had a picnic by the arroyo.他们在干枯的河床边野餐过。

8 psychology   

n.心理，心理学，心理状态

参考例句：

• She has a background in child psychology.她受过儿童心理学的教育。
• He studied philosophy and psychology at Cambridge.他在剑桥大学学习哲学和心理学。

9 ingenuity   

n.别出心裁；善于发明创造

参考例句：

• The boy showed ingenuity in making toys.那个小男孩做玩具很有创造力。
• I admire your ingenuity and perseverance.我钦佩你的别出心裁和毅力。

10 maturity   

n.成熟；完成；(支票、债券等)到期

参考例句：

• These plants ought to reach maturity after five years.这些植物五年后就该长成了。
• This is the period at which the body attains maturity.这是身体发育成熟的时期。