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Science & Technology
科技版块
Logistics
物流
Autonomous deliveries
自动送货
Sidewalk robots are already busy delivering groceries
人行道上的自动送货机器人正在忙着运送食品杂货
ALTHOUGH IT IS a business not many are aware of, sidewalk robots are set to become an industry with annual sales of $1bn within a decade, reckons IDTechEx, a British firm of analysts.
英国分析公司IDTechEx估计，尽管没有多少人留意人行道上的自动送货机器人这个行业，但在十年内，它将成为一个年销售额为10亿美元的行业。
These four- or six-wheeled autonomous machines, usually the size of a suitcase, are already delivering groceries and other goods in America, China and Europe.
这些四轮或六轮的自动送货机，通常有行李箱大小，已经在美国、中国和欧洲运送食品杂货和其他商品了。
That puts them ahead of many driverless cars, vans and lorries being developed.
这使得他们领先于许多正在研发的无人驾驶汽车、面包车和卡车。
Those bigger vehicles are held back not by technology but regulation, says Zehao Li of IDTechEx.
IDTechEx的李泽浩表示，这些大型汽车不是受技术的限制，而是受监管的限制。
This means having a "safety driver" on board ready to take over if there is a problem, which is hardly labour-saving.
这意味着车上要有一名“安全司机”，随时准备在出现问题时接手，这很难节省劳动力。
For these larger contraptions regulators want to see safety systems thoroughly proved.
对于这些更大的汽车装置，监管方希望相关公司能够证明系统绝对安全。
But there are legal hurdles, too.
但也存在法律障碍。
In January Britain's Law Commission, which reviews legislation, recommended that it should not be the person in the driver's seat who faces prosecution if a vehicle in autonomous mode crashes, but the manufacturer or body that sought approval for its use.
今年1月，负责审查立法的英国法律委员会建议，如果自动驾驶模式下的车辆发生碰撞，将面临起诉的不应是驾驶座上的人，而应是寻求批准其使用的制造商或机构。
Meanwhile, sidewalk robots are getting on with the job.
与此同时，人行道上的自动送货机器人也开始工作了。
Among them, Starship Technologies, based in San Francisco, reckons it has already clocked up more than 2.5m deliveries with bots in a number of cities, university campuses and business parks in Europe and America.
其中，总部位于旧金山的星际科技公司估计，在欧洲、美国的一些城市、大学校园和商业园区，该公司已经交付了250多万辆机器人。
Amazon is carrying out trials with a similar sort of machine it calls Scout.
亚马逊正在对一种类似的机器人进行试验，该机器被称为Scout。
Kiwibot, a Colombian startup, is making sidewalk deliveries in California.
哥伦比亚初创公司Kiwibot正在加州人行道上送货。
Typically, these robots carry a few bags of groceries using a variety of sensors, including cameras, radar and GPS to navigate and avoid obstacles and people.
通常，这些机器人携带几袋食品杂货，使用各种传感器，包括摄像头、雷达和GPS来导航和避开障碍物和人群。
Their progress can be monitored on a phone app, which also unlocks them for goods to be retrieved.
送货过程可以通过手机应用程序监控，该应用程序还可以解锁他们，以便取回货物。
As they are small, move slowly (Starship's bots might reach a heady 6kph) and are "telemonitored" by people in a control room who can take over, authorities seem more willing to give them a green light.
由于它们体积小，移动缓慢（星际公司的机器人最大速度可能达到6公里/小时），并且是由控制室中人“远程监控”（也可以接管），监管方似乎更愿意给它们开绿灯。
Such robots are also becoming more autonomous.
这样的机器人有更多的自主权。
In January Serve Robotics, another San Franciscan firm whose backers include Uber, a ride-hailing giant, said it had deployed a new sidewalk bot with "level 4" autonomy, which means it can operate without telemonitoring in some predesignated areas.
今年1月，旧金山另一家公司Serve Robotics（其投资者包括打车巨头优步）表示，该公司已经部署了一个新的人行道自动送货机器人，具有“4级”自主权，这意味着它可以在一些预先指定的区域无需远程监控即可运行。
Robotic versions which operate on roads but have no driver’s cab are also appearing.
在道路上运行但没有驾驶室的送货机器人也在出现。
Nuro, a Silicon Valley firm, makes one about the size of a small car that can carry 24 bags of groceries. It has chilled and heated compartments for food and drinks.
硅谷的一家公司Nuro，制造了一辆小型汽车大小的送货机器人，可以装载24袋食品杂货。它有供食物和饮料使用的冷冻和加热隔间。
Udelv, also a Californian firm, is developing a larger type called Transporter to operate at highway speeds.
Udelv也是加州的一家公司，它正在开发一种更大的送货机器人叫做Transporter，可以高速运行。
Being much further along the road in earning their keep, these delivery bots are helping to pave the way for the time when bigger autonomous vehicles can join them.
这类送货机器人在挣钱方面走得更远，为更大的自动驾驶汽车加入他们铺平了道路。
