英语听力：自然百科 表情机器人

A walking humanoid robot(类人机器人) able to use its whole face and body to express emotion was unveiled this week in Japan. The robot was created by scientists at Tokyo's Waseda University and its makers¹ say it’s the first of its kind.

 

It is able to express a range of different emotions, including happiness, fear, surprise, sadness, anger and disgust² by opening and closing its eyes, moving its lips and eyebrows³ and using its arms and legs. It shows happiness by opening its eyes and mouth wide and raising its arms.

 

The robot is installed⁴ with 48 actuators(执行器) which allow its face and body to move in a variety of ways. It shows sorrow by drooping(垂下) its head and covering its eyes.

 

The robot is called Kobian and was two and a half years in the making.

 

For a robot to be useful in human life, the robot needs to communicate with humans to do what humans command it to do. To achieve natural communication between humans and robots, expressing feeling is an important factor.

 

Reportedly it could be several decades before robots such as Kobian can be used to help people in their homes. But the professor said he hopes this type of robot could be used to help elderly people with housework and in nursing homes.

 

The robot is not yet able to interact⁵ with humans, apart from a set of pre-programmed(预先设定好的) responses.         

1 makers   

n.制造者，制造商（maker的复数形式）

参考例句：

• The makers of the product assured us that there had been no sacrifice of quality. 这一产品的制造商向我们保证说他们没有牺牲质量。
• The makers are about to launch out a new product. 制造商们马上要生产一种新产品。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 disgust   

n.使厌恶，使反感；vt.恶，反感

参考例句：

• The food at the hotel filled him with disgust.旅馆的食物使他作呕。
• My immediate reaction was just disgust.我当时的第一反应就是反感。

3 eyebrows   

眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Eyebrows stop sweat from coming down into the eyes. 眉毛挡住汗水使其不能流进眼睛。
• His eyebrows project noticeably. 他的眉毛特别突出。

4 installed   

安装( install的过去式和过去分词 )； 安顿； 安置； 使…正式就职

参考例句：

• He's getting a phone installed tomorrow. 他明天要装电话。
• A professionally installed alarm will cost from about ￡500. 请专业人员安装的警报器要花费至少500 英镑。

5 interact   

vi.相互作用，相互影响，互通信息

参考例句：

• All things are interrelated and interact on each other.一切事物互相联系并相互作用。
• The policeman advised the criminal to interact with the police.警察劝罪犯与警方合作。