VOA标准英语2009年-Insects Inspire New Generation of Australian We

Australian researchers have studied the navigation skills of insects to develop a pioneering weapons-guidance system. The insect-inspired tracking technology has been launched at an air show in the southern state, Victoria.
　
Australian army captain in Iraq (File)

Australian weapons developers have been inspired by the unfailing capacity of insects to spot and zero in on food and the ability of bees to avoid colliding with each other in a swarm¹.

Australia's Defense² Science and Technology Organization has been looking at how the existing research into insects' navigation and sight could make airborne weapons more reliable and improve their ability to hit moving targets.

Through its collaboration³ with several electronics companies, a new system known as 'Bioseeker' has been developed.

Project Manager Philip Henschke says the study of insects has been vital.

"A variety of insects have a unique capability⁴ to find the moving target and that's the particular holy grail of what we're interested in from a weapons application in defense," Henschke explained. "What we've actually done is looked at the mathematics of how an insect sees and we've taken that mathematics and from that we've looked at an algorithm that will enable us to do what we call a bio-image generation, a map of the movement within a scene."

This information was then analyzed⁵ in special software to create a system designed to find, track and destroy moving targets.

The Bioseeker technology is scheduled to undergo final testing, later this year. Its architects believe that, if it is eventually used in battle, it will make soldiers safer by taking them further away from the enemy.

Researchers aim to produce a low-cost seeker-and-guidance system that could eventually be reduced to the size of a coffee cup. Possible applications include placing the technology inside rockets used on the Australian Army's Tiger Attack helicopters.

The Australian military is relatively⁶ small, with about 50,000 personnel. However, the defense force has a reputation for technological⁷ innovation.

The government in Canberra has said that, by 2020, it hopes to bring into service a fleet of Super Hornet jet fighters and an early-warning aircraft, as well as a range of new helicopters and airborne refueling airplanes.

The Australian military is involved in peacekeeping missions in East Timor, Sudan and the Solomon Islands and with the US-led campaign in Afghanistan.

1 swarm   

n.(昆虫)等一大群；vi.成群飞舞；蜂拥而入

参考例句：

• There is a swarm of bees in the tree.这树上有一窝蜜蜂。
• A swarm of ants are moving busily.一群蚂蚁正在忙碌地搬家。

2 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

3 collaboration   

n.合作，协作；勾结

参考例句：

• The two companies are working in close collaboration each other.这两家公司密切合作。
• He was shot for collaboration with the enemy.他因通敌而被枪毙了。

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 analyzed   

v.分析( analyze的过去式和过去分词 )；分解；解释；对…进行心理分析

参考例句：

• The doctors analyzed the blood sample for anemia. 医生们分析了贫血的血样。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The young man did not analyze the process of his captivation and enrapturement, for love to him was a mystery and could not be analyzed. 这年轻人没有分析自己蛊惑著迷的过程，因为对他来说，爱是个不可分析的迷。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

7 technological   

adj.技术的；工艺的

参考例句：

• A successful company must keep up with the pace of technological change.一家成功的公司必须得跟上技术变革的步伐。
• Today,the pace of life is increasing with technological advancements.当今， 随着科技进步，生活节奏不断增快。