Researchers in Shanghai are developing a robot “guide dog” that could help blind people.
上海的研究人员正在开发一种可以帮助盲人的机器人“导盲犬”。
The robot is currently being tested in Shanghai.
该机器人目前正在上海进行测试。
The machine uses cameras and sensors to navigate its environment.
该机器使用摄像头和传感器来导航其环境。
It is able to recognize traffic light signals which traditional guide dogs are unable to recognize. The robot can communicate.
它能够识别传统导盲犬无法识别的交通信号灯。还可以进行交流。
It is able to listen and speak with a blind operator.
它能够听失明的操作员的话并且和他对话。
The robot also uses artificial intelligence (AI) to recognize voices, plan ways to go from place to place and identify traffic lights.
机器人还使用人工智能来识别声音、规划从一个地方到另一个地方的路线以及识别交通信号灯。
The robot dog is described as being about the size of an English bulldog but a little wider than a real dog.
这款机器狗被描述为大约有一只英国斗牛犬那么大,但比真正的狗稍微宽一些。
It has six legs instead of four because the researchers say the extra legs make it more stable, making its movements smoother.
它有六条腿而不是四条腿,因为研究人员说额外的腿将使它更稳定,使它的动作更流畅。
Professor Gao Feng is the head of the research team that is developing the dog at Jiao Tong University’s School of Mechanical Engineering.
高凤教授是上海交通大学机械工程学院开发这种狗的研究团队的负责人。
“When three legs are lifted, there are still three legs…It is the most stable shape,” he said.
“当三条腿抬起时,还有三条腿……这是最稳定的形状,”他说。
Forty-one-year-old Li Fei and 42-year-old Zhu Sibin are among the people with vision problems who are helping the Jiao Tong University team.
41岁的李飞和42岁的朱思宾是协助交通大学团队的盲人人之一。
They are testing the dog using Chinese-language commands.
他们正在用中文指令测试这只狗。
Li is completely blind while Zhu has limited eyesight. He normally uses a cane to walk.
李飞完全失明,而朱思宾的视力有限。他通常使用拐杖行走。
Li said, “If this robot guide dog comes onto the market and I could use it, at least it could solve some of my problems in travelling alone.”
李飞说道:“如果这个机器人导盲犬上市,我可以使用它,至少它可以解决我独自出行的一些问题。”
Robot guide dogs are also under development in Australia and Britain.
澳大利亚和英国也在开发机器人导盲犬。
But China has a big shortage of traditional guide dogs.
但是,中国传统导盲犬的数量非常短缺。
Gao said there are just over 400 guide dogs in China for nearly 20 million blind people.
高风教授表示:在中国,近2000万盲人只有400多只导盲犬。
Pet ownership and service animals are a fairly new idea in the country.
宠物饲养和服务性动物在这个国家是一个相当新的概念。
Many workplaces, restaurants and public areas do not welcome a usual service dog like a Labrador.
许多工作场所、餐馆和公共区域并不欢迎像拉布拉多犬这样常见的服务犬。
The supply of real dogs is limited by breeding and training needs.
真狗的供应受到繁殖和训练需求的限制。
Gao said the production of robot guide dogs could be increased to an industrial level, especially in a manufacturing center like China.
高风教授表示,机器人导盲犬可以进行工业化生产,尤其是在中国这样的制造业中心。“
“It’s a bit like cars. I can mass-produce them in the same way as cars, so [they] will become more affordable,” Gao said.
"这有点像汽车。我可以像生产汽车一样大规模地生产它们,这样价格就会更实惠。”高风表示。
The researcher thinks there could be a large market for his robot dogs.
研究人员认为他的机器狗可能会有很大的市场。
“…There might be tens of millions of people in the world who need guide dogs,” he added.
“……世界上可能有数百万人需要导盲犬,”他补充道。
I’m Mario Ritter, Jr.
我是小马里奥·里特。