科技英语翻译-第6章

科技英语翻译1.1 翻译的标准第1节翻译练习1The power plant is the heart of a ship.The power unit for driving the machines is a 50-hp induction motor.动力装置是船舶的心脏。

驱动这些机器的动力装置是一台50马力的感应电动机。

第1节翻译练习2Semiconductor devices, called transistors, are replacing tubes in many applications.Cramped conditions means that passengers’ legs cannot move around freely.All bodies are known to possess weight and occupy space.半导体装置也称为晶体管，在许多场合替代电子管。

我们知道，所有的物体都有重量并占据空间。

空间狭窄，旅客的两腿就不能自由活动。

第1节翻译练习3The removal of minerals from water is called softening.A typical foliage leaf of a plant belonging to the dicotyledons is composed of two principal parts: blade and petiole.去除水中的矿物质叫做软化。

双子叶植物典型的营养叶由两个主要部分组成：叶片和叶柄。

1.2 对译者的要求第4节翻译练习1Einstein’s relativity theory is the only one which can explain such phenomena. All four (outer planets) probably have cores of metals, silicates, and water. 爱因斯坦的相对论是能解释这种现象的唯一理论。

Unit 6 科技文体翻译教学目标及基本要求：了解科技英语的词汇、句法特点，掌握科技文体的翻译技巧。

教学重点：1)英语科技词语的构成2)科技英语的句法特点教学难点：科技英语的翻译方法实用训练：英译汉：Scientific prediction for the next 30 years汉译英：技术创新1 .Formation of English Technical TermsOne of the most distinctive features of EST is its technical terms，which not only account for a large part of English vocabulary，but also are the must important source of new coined words in modern English，ranging over an extensive area of various fields. A mastery of them will benefit us a great deal in the translation of EST.In terms of form，English technical terms may be classified into three categories, namely, single words (e. g. robot机器人，Internet因特网，etc. ) , compound forms(e.g. feedback反馈，splashdown溅落，etc.)and phrases(e. g. on-and-off-the- road路面越野两用的，anti- armored-fight-vehicle-missile 反装甲车导弹，power transmission relay system送电中继体系，etc. ). Since most of the technical terms come out of the basic rules of word-formation，it's necessary for us to conduct a Brief survey of their formation.1. Affixation 缀合式科技词语Affixation is an important means of coining new English words and technical terms，with prefix and suffix as inseparable elements of the words being coined. The advantage of affixation is evident: it is the most flexible means of forming new woods and its potential of creation is almost boundless，therefore it is extensively used in the formation of technical terms. Besides prefix and suffix of English origin，there are some foreign borrowings，noticeably the Latin ones, e.g. bio-(生命、生物) thermo-(热)，electro- (电),aero-(空气)，carbo- (碳), hydro-(水), -ite(矿物)，-mania(热、狂), etc. If we are familiar with these prefixes and suffixes，many technical terms of such formation can be translated appropriately. The following are some typical examples.miniultrasonicprober =mini +ultra +sonic +prober微型超声波金属探伤仪macrospacetransship=macro +space +trans +ship巨型空间转运飞船teletypesetter=tele +type +setter电传排字机bathythermograph=bathy +thermo +graph海水测温仪barothermograph=baro +thermo +graph气压温度记录器deoxyrihonucleic=de +oxy +ribo+ nucleic脱氧核糖核的photomorphogenesis=photo +morpho +genesis光形态发生2. Compounding复合式科技词语Two or more words combined to form a new word is called compounding. English technical terms formed by compounding generally take three forms: combining with a hypthen (e.g. salt-former卤素，dew-point露点, pulse-scaler脉冲定标器) or without it (e.g. fallout放射性尘埃，hovercraft 气垫船，waterlock水闸，thunderstorm雷暴)，or two or more separate words forming a word combination ( e.g. stem cell 干细胞，optical drive光驱，satellite antimissile observation system卫星反导弹观察系统). Most of such compound words may be translated literally, i.e., Put the Chinese equivalents of the separate elements together and we get the Chinese equivalents of the compound words. Sometimes，however，there are exceptions. For example，bull's eye靶心)，cat-and-mouse航向与指挥的)，dog house(高频高压电源屏蔽罩)，etc.一literal translation in tackling such terms may lead astray. Therefore whenever we are confronted with unfamiliar terms and are not sure of their meaning，we should frequently consult dictionaries of relevant specialties. In many cases some additional explanations are needed to make the original meaning clear and accurate.3 .Blending缩合式科技词语This is a variant of compounding，omitting the latter part of the first word and clipping off the first part of the second word. Sometimes，however, either the first part or the second part of the overlapped word may be clipped to form a new word. This blending of words generally possesses the combined meaning of both; therefore, literal translation is used in translating such terms，with one element modifying the other. Occasionally，a new name is given to the blending.bit=binary+ digit(二进制)位，比特blog=web +log博客brunch=breakfast十lunch早午餐/晚早餐copytron = copy+ electron电子复写技术gravisphere=gravity +sphere引力范围medicare= medical +care医疗保健netizen=net+ citizen网民smog=smoke +fog烟雾telex=teleprinter+ exchange电传4.Acronyms 首字母缩略式科技词语An acronym is a word formed from the initials or other of several words.Acronyms are widely accepted to coin English technical terms. With the rapid development of science and technology，more and more acronyms are being extensively used in various fields. Simple and brief, acronyms sometimes tend to cause ambiguity in meaning. Therefore，it is up to the translator to discern their actual meaning in different contexts.ADP automatic data processing自动数据处理AIDS Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome艾滋病EDF'M electronic data processing machine电子数据处理机DINK double income , no kids双收人无子女家庭GSV guided space vehicle制导宇宙飞船Laser light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation激光RAM random access memory随机存取存储器UFO unidentified flying object不明飞行物WWW World Wide Web万维网Sometimes，an acronym happens to be an actual English word，or it may possess more than one meaning. In this case，special attention should be paid to pick out the right equivalent in Chinese.MOUSE minimum orbital unmanned satellite of the earth(仪表载重50公斤以下的)不载人的最小人造地球卫星SALT Strategic Arms Limitation Talks限制战略武器会谈SNAP subsystem for nuclear}auxiliary power辅助(原子)核动力子系统space nuclear auxiliary power空间核辅助能源systems for nuclear auxiliary power辅助核动力系统AS air scoop空气收集器air seasoned风干的(木材)air speed空速，气流速率air station航空站，飞机场American Standard美国标准atmosphere arid space大气层与宇宙空间automatic sprinkler自动洒水车automatic synchronizer自动同步器5 .Proper Nouns 专有名词科技词语Many of the technical terms in English are borrowed from proper nouns such as names of people，places，firms，trade marks，organizations，etc.，normally beginning with a capital letter. In such cases，consulting relevant dictionaries will be of great help . Transliteration is the usual way in translating proper nouns. Sometimes，a label to the corresponding translation is necessary to indicate the nature of the given words.Xerox静电复制(derived from a trademark )IBM System IBM系统(derived from a US corporation)Kuru库鲁病} derived from a place in eastern New Guinea)Alfven wave阿尔文波(derived from the Swedish astrophysicist Hannes Alfven) Chandler's wobble钱得拉波动说(derived from the US astronomer Seth Carlo Chandler )Of course，there are some other forms of technical terms in English. To name a few，Clipping(e. g.“lab”comes from“laboratory”)，Back-formation(e. g.“to lase" comes from“laser")，Coinage(e. g.“quark" in physics)，Functional Shift (e. g. in the phrase“to contract the terminal"，the word“contract" is converted from a noun to a verb)，Borrowing(e. g.“gene" is borrowed from German)，and so on. In whatever circumstances，the discrimination of the original meaning and the contextual analysis are of vital importance. Only when we get an accurate understanding of them，can we put them into Chinese exactly as they actually mean.II .Characteristic Syntax of EST1.More bong and complicated Sentences 大量使用长句EST as a formal style of writing usually consists of more long and complicated sentences. When translated into Chinese，a long sentence may be cut into several parts. For example:The efforts that have been made to explain optical phenomena by means of the hypothesis of a medium having the same physical character as an elastic solid body led，in the first instance，to the understanding of a concrete example of a medium which can transmit transverse vibration but later to the definite conclusion that there is no luminiferous medium having the physical character assumed in the hypothesis.为了解释光学现象，人们曾试图假定有一种具有与弹性固体相伺的物理性的介质。

参考译文Unit 1课文A石油1油，和煤一样，存在于沉积岩中，而且可能由死去很长时间的生物有机体形成。

含有石油的岩石几乎都来源于海洋，所以形成石油的有机物一定是海洋生物，而不是树木。

2 石油，并不是来自于逐渐积聚的木质物质，而可能是来自于逐渐积聚的海洋生物的脂肪物质。

比如浮游生物：大量浮游在海水表层的单细胞生物。

3 有机物的脂肪物质主要由碳氢原子组成，因此并不需要太多的化学变化就可以形成石油。

生物有机体只需在缺氧的条件下沉积到海湾浅水处的淤泥里。

其脂肪不是分解腐烂，而是逐渐积聚，并在深层的淤泥里圈闭起来，进而经过细微的原子重组，最终形成石油。

4 油比水轻，呈液态，会经由上方覆盖的孔隙性岩石向上渗透，在地球上有些地区到达表层，古人将这些表层石油称为沥青、柏油或异庚烷。

在古代和中世纪，这些石油油苗常被看作药品而不是燃料。

5 当然，表层的油苗数量很少。

而石油油藏上方有时覆盖的是非孔隙性岩石。

石油向上渗透抵达该岩石，然后在岩石下方逐渐积聚形成油层。

若在上方的岩石上钻个孔，石油就可以通过该孔向上迁移。

有时压力过大，石油会向高空喷出。

1859年在宾夕法尼亚州，由埃德温·德雷克成功打出第一口井。

6 如果可以发现一个合适的地点（勘探人员已经识别出地下可能圈闭有石油的地层结构），那么就很容易抽取这一液体燃料，这要比派人到地下把大块的固体煤炭砍成小块要容易得多。

而且一旦获得石油，可以通过地上管道运输，而不必像煤一样，由运货车经过繁重的装卸任务来运输。

7 石油便于抽取，易于运输，促进了石油的应用。

石油可以蒸馏成不同的馏分，每种馏分均由特定大小的分子组成，分子越小，该馏分就越容易蒸发。

8 到19世纪下半叶，最重要的石油馏分是由中等大小的分子构成的煤油，它不易蒸发，被用于照明。

9 然而，到19世纪末人们研制出了内燃机。

内燃机是通过在汽缸里将空气与可燃气体混合，产生爆炸来提供动力的。

最便利的可燃气体是汽油——石油的又一馏分，由小分子构成，容易蒸发。

1all elements are composed of scattered units called atoms,which are the smallest particles than show the characteristics of the element. atoms are tiny units of matter composed of positively charged protons, negatively charged elements ,and electrically neutral neutrons. protons and neutrons, which have almost the same mass,are clustered in the nucleus in the middle of the atom. electrons,which are tiny in comparison to the other units, move around the nucleus at high speed. atoms that have the same number of electrons and protons are electrically neutral. those that have got or lost electrons,and therefor are positively or negatively charged, are called ions.所有的元素都称为原子的散射单元，这是比显示的元件的特性的最小的颗粒组成。

原子是微小单位的物质组成的带正电的质子，带负电荷的元件和电中性的中子。

质子和中子，它们具有几乎相同的质量，聚集在细胞核内的原子在中间。

的电子，这在其他单位相比是微小的，围绕原子核高速移动。

具有相同的电子和质子数的原子是电中性的。

科技英语翻‎译1.1 翻译的标准‎第1节翻译练习1‎The power‎plant‎is the heart‎of a ship.The power‎unit for drivi‎n g the machi‎n es is a 50-hp induc‎t ion motor‎.动力装置是‎船舶的心脏‎。

驱动这些机‎器的动力装‎置是一台5‎0马力的感‎应电动机。

第1节翻译练习2‎Semic‎o nduc‎t or devic‎e s, calle‎d trans‎i stor‎s, are repla‎c ing tubes‎in many appli‎c atio‎n s.Cramp‎e d condi‎t ions‎means‎that passe‎n gers‎’‎legs‎canno‎t move aroun‎d freel‎y.All bodie‎s are known‎to posse‎s s weigh‎t and occup‎y space‎.半导体装置‎也称为晶体‎管，在许多场合‎替代电子管‎。

我们知道，所有的物体‎都有重量并‎占据空间。

空间狭窄，旅客的两腿‎就不能自由‎活动。

第1节翻译练习3‎The remov‎a l of miner‎a ls from water‎is calle‎d softe‎n ing.A typic‎a l folia‎g e leaf of a plant‎belon‎g ing to the dicot‎y ledo‎n s is compo‎s ed of two princ‎i pal parts‎: blade‎and petio‎l e.去除水中的‎矿物质叫做‎软化。

双子叶植物‎典型的营养‎叶由两个主‎要部分组成‎：叶片和叶柄‎。

1.2 对译者的要‎求第4节翻译练习1‎Einst‎e in’s‎relat‎i vity‎theor‎y is the only one which‎can expla‎i n such pheno‎m ena.All four (outer‎plane‎t s) proba‎b ly have cores‎of metal‎s, silic‎a tes, and water‎.爱因斯坦的‎相对论是能‎解释这种现‎象的唯一理‎论。

Sentence TranslationUnit 1Text A1.However, the volume of business done on the Internet is growing rapidly, as people orderbooks and other products to make money transactions.但是，因特网上的交易数量急速增长，人们从网上购书和其他的产品，进行资金交易。

2.They use them to prowl the Internet, looking for ways to break into computers systems runby banks, telephone companies and even government departments.他们用电脑上网，寻找能够进入银行电脑系统、电话公司的电脑系统、甚至是政府的电脑系统的方式。

3.The first indication of a security breach may be when a customer discovers a fraudulentmoney transaction on a credit card account.当顾客发现信用卡的帐号上出现了来历不明的消费时，这可能就是安全受到了破坏的第一个标志。

4.The use of credit cards to buy things on the Internet converts the issue of Internet securityinto one of general security.用信用卡在网上购物使网络安全变成了大众所普遍关注的安全的一种5.Few people think twice about giving a credit card number over the phone and many areequally careless about what happens to the carbon copy when completing a transaction over the counter.很多人会在电话里随意报出自己的信用卡号码，同样地，也有很多人不留意交易完成后放在银行柜台上的副本。

科技英语阅读与翻译（李健）第二章设想一下:在一个新的产业诞生之际, 你目=睹见证了这一切! 这个产业是在前所未有的新技术基础上发展起来的, 其中包括一些实力雄厚企业销售的高度专业化商务设备, 还有越来越多的新兴公司生产的新奇玩具、为玩具藏家青睐的机巧装置, 以及其他一些奇特有趣的特殊产品。

但同时, 这还是一个缺乏行业标准和平台的、尚不成规模的产业。

项目复杂, 进步缓慢, 实际应用更是少之有少。

事实上, 尽管对这个产业的未来充满热情和希望,但是没有人能明确地说出什么时间- 或究竟是否有可能-它能取得关键性的规模发展。

但是,若真能实现发展, 那么,它很可能改变整个世界。

当然, 上述描述可算是上世纪70 年代中期计算机产业的写照, 也就在那时, 保罗·艾伦和我成立了微软公司。

当时,部分大企业、政府部门和其他一些机构都在使用笨重、昂贵的主计算机进行后台运算。

知名大学和大型工业实验室的研究人员正试图建造出最基本的构件, 以使信息化时代的到来成为可能。

当时英特尔公司刚刚推出他们的8080 微处理器,雅达利公司正在销售一款流行电子游戏“乒乓”。

而在国产计算机俱乐部里,爱好者急切地努力探索这种新技术带来的好处究竟是什么。

但当时我脑海中所萦绕的则是更具前瞻性的问题:机器人产业即将作为一项新兴的产业而崛起,其当时的发展同30 年前计算机的发展如出一辙。

想想看, 目前汽车组装线上使用的制造型机器人已替代了昔日的主计算机。

这个产业其他的典型产品包括可进行外科手术的机器手, 在伊拉克和阿富汗用于路边及地面排雷的侦察机器人, 以及可以进行地板吸尘的家用机器人。

电子产品公司还推出了可模仿人类、或是狗、恐龙等的机器人玩具, 而玩具收藏者们正迫不及待地想要猎取一套乐高公司生产的最新机器人系列玩具。

与此同时, 世界尖端科技人员正试图解决机器人技术中最棘手的难题, 诸如视觉识别、远程操控、以及学习型机器等问题, 而且他们正在不断获得成功。

第一单元自动化第二部分阅读A自动化的含义“自动化”已经是，而且现在仍然是，一个被大量滥用的词。

但是，人们对其确切的意义以及所包括的内容，正在逐渐地有了较为正确的了解。

如果不是下一个定义的话，我也许可以尝试作些解释，把自动化说成是一个概念。

运用这个概念，人们通过对机器装置的性能进行充分的测量、观察和控制，从而使其以最高的效率运转。

这需要对这种装置的功能有一个详细而连贯性的了解，以便需要时便能运用最佳的矫正操作。

自动化按其确切的意义，只有全面运用通信、计算和控制三个主要组成部分（“三C" )才能完全实现。

我认为，确保人们对合为一体的三个组成部分对我们的社会所蕴含着的某些意义有所认识和了解，是很有必要的。

首先，我们不妨考虑工业部门之一的炼钢工业。

在炼钢工业中，自动化已经开始成型。

到过钢厂的人都会知道从高炉开始的各种工艺流程的一些情况，成品条钢或板钢生产出来之后，再准备送往制造工艺车间或汽车厂，这些工艺流程是相互链接的。

为了使工厂中各个车间充分发挥效率，可以使用计算机来控制每个车间。

在此之前，计算机工作所需要的一切资料均输入机内。

就高炉来说，需要给计算机提供装人高炉的原料的信息、高炉工作温度的信息和处理各种各样配料的最好方法等方面的资料。

钢厂的高炉操作是一项复杂而要求技术熟练的作业，需要大量的知识和大量的综合信息，并迅速地做出判定选择，以便确保高炉工艺流程中的下一阶段的有效工作。

计算机对所有这一切都了解得很透彻，能够做出非常大量的中间判定，并且能够把全部信息立刻和不间断地提供给管理人员，以使他们做出高效管理这个工厂所需要的最后决定。

由此产生的信息数据和判定要进行处理，然后转送到下一个工序。

在这里，对操作的一些专门细节再次进行整理，提出最佳和最终的判定，然后对这些信息再一次进行处理并输送给下一道工序。

同时，当信息数据从生产单元的一道工序输送到下一工序并完全结合成为一项新的操作时，每次变化的结果反馈到最初阶段，而且，不断地做进一步的调整，结果是整个工厂的工艺流程便能够高效率地进行下去。

科技英语的语法特点科技英语作为一种揭示客观外部世界的本质和规律的信息传递工具，具有准确、简明扼要和客观正式等特点。

科技文章文体的特点是：语言简练、结构严谨，逻辑性强，原理概念清楚，重点突出，段落章节分明。

具体而言，科技英语在用词、语法结构及表达方式上有其自身的特点，下面分别予以介绍。

1.词汇1）大量使用专业词汇和半专业词汇，例如calculus（微积分学）, vector（矢量）, matrix （矩阵）等是专业词汇，而power, work等是半专业词汇，在不同的学科领域含义有所不同；2）大量使用词缀和词根，例如，上海科学技术出版社出版的《英汉现代科学技术词汇》中以tele-构成的词有177个；3）较多使用缩略词，如PCM(pulse-coded modulation，脉冲编码调制), VLSI(very large scale integration，超大规模集成), DSP(digital signal processing，数字信号处理)等；4）词性变换多，例如function一词常用作名词，作“函数、功能、作用”等解，但在例句Robots can withstand radiation, heat, cold, and can function without an atmosphere中则用作动词，表示“起作用，行使职责”之意。

2．词法1) 常用一般现在时态表示真理或客观规律的普遍陈述。

[例句]Vector and matrix techniques provide the framework for much of the developments in modern engineering.[译文]矢量和矩阵方法为现代工程学的发展提供了框架。

2) 广泛使用被动语态科技英语句子有三分之一用被动语态，为的是强调所论述的客观事物。

[例句] A characteristics feature of semiconductor is that their low electric conductivity can be substantially modified by the addition of minute quantities of impurities.[译文] 半导体的特征是：加入微量杂质可明显改变其低导电率。

第二章测试1.科技英语文体中常用前置性陈述，即在句中将主要信息尽量前置，通过主语传递主要信息。

（）A:错B:对答案:B2.科技英语翻译中确定词义的方法一般有（）。

A:通过题材或专业确定词义B:通过词语搭配确定词义C:通过句法确定词义D:通过译者主观猜测确定词义答案:ABC3.AIDS 被翻译为艾滋病，这种翻译方法被称为（）。

A:音译B:音译加注C:意译D:意译加注答案:B4.增减翻译是指原语和目标语之间由于词语用法、句子结构以及表达形式上的差异，翻译时需根据意义或修辞需要，译文添加原文有其义但无其词的内容或者删除原文译成译文时可有可无或稍显累赘甚至违背目标语表达习惯的词汇。

（）A:错B:对答案:B5.被动语态在科技英语中使用的频率极高。

据统计，被动语态在科技英语中约占（）。

A:1/2B:1/3C:1/4D:1/5答案:B第三章测试1.Workaholic是在alcoholic语义联想基础上仿造出的，这种构词法称为（）。

A:派生B:类比C:混成D:借用答案:B2.下列哪一项属于复合名词（）。

A:fluB:highwayC:antibodyD:preheat答案:B3.词汇的前缀通常没有特定词义，但可以表明构成单词的不同词性。

（）A:对B:错答案:B4.（）是指为表达便捷而根据英语缩略规则进行简化的科技英语词汇。

A:创新词B:缩略词C:简写词D:复合词答案:B5.裁切缩略词 (Clipped words)主要包括以下（）类。

A:clipping compounds（复合裁切）B:head-tail-clippings（去尾截头）C:head-clippings (裁头)D:tail-clippings (去尾)答案:ABCD第四章测试1.按字典所给出的意义，直接将词的各个词素（或成分）的意义依次翻译出来，这种方法多用于派生词和合成词，这种词汇翻译方法称之为（）。

A:语音照应B:象形照应C:前后照应D:移植照应答案:D2.翻译时根据意义或者修辞的需要，在译文中增添一些原文虽有其义但无其词的词汇的翻译方法，这种翻译方法称之为（）。

科技英语阅读1-9单元译文：Unit 1罗素悖论的提出是基于这样的一个事例：设想有这样一群理发师，他们只给不给自己理发的人理发。

假设其中一个理发师符合上述的条件，不给自己理发；然而按照要求，他必须要给自己理发。

但是在这个集合中没有人会给自己理发。

（如果这样的话，这个理发师必定是给别人理发还要给自己理发）1901年，伯特兰·罗素悖论的发现打击了他其中的一个数学家同事。

在19世纪后期，弗雷格尝试发展一个基本原理以便数学上能使用符号逻辑。

他确立了形式表达式（如：x =2）和数学特性（如偶数）之间的联系。

按照弗雷格理论的发展，我们能自由的用一个特性去定义更多更深远的特性。

1903年，发表在《数学原理》上的罗素悖论从根本上揭示了弗雷格这种集合系统的局限性。

就现在而言，这种类型的集合系统能很好的用俗称集的结构式来描述。

例如，我们可以用 x代表整数，通过n来表示并且n大于3小于7，来表示4，5,6这样一个集合。

这种集合的书写形势就是：x={n：n是整数，3<n<7}。

集合中的对象并不一定是数字。

我们也可让y={x：x是美国的一个男性居民}。

表面上看，似乎任何一个关于x的描述都有一个符合要求的空间。

但是，罗素（和策梅洛一起）发现x={a：a不再a中}导致一个矛盾，就像对一群理发师的描述一样。

x它本身是在x的集合中吗？否定的答案导致了矛盾的出现。

当罗素发现了悖论，弗雷格立即就发现悖论对他的理论有致命的打击。

尽管这样，他还不能解决这个问题,并且上世纪有很多的尝试，去解决这个问题（但没有成功）。

罗素自己对这个悖论的回答促进了类型理论的形成。

他解释说，悖论的问题在于我们混淆了数集和数集的集合。

所以，罗素介绍了对象的分级系统：数、数集、数集的集合等等。

这个系统为形式化数学的形成奠定了基础，至今它还应用于哲学研究和计算机科学分支。

策梅洛对于罗素悖论的解决方法用新的公理：对于任意公式A（x）和任意集合b，都会有一个集合满足y={x：x既在b中又满足A（x）}取代了以前的公理：对于任意公式A（x），都会有一个集合满足y={x：x满足A（x）}。

科技英语原文及简单翻译How ASIMO WorksIntroduction to How ASIMO WorksWant a robot to cook your dinner, do your homework, clean your house, or get your groceries? Robots already do a lot of the jobs that we humans don't want to do, can't do, or simply can't do as well as our robotic counterparts.Honda engineers have been busy creating the ASIMO robot for more than 20 years. In this article, we'll find out what makes ASIMO the most advanced humanoid robot to date.The Honda Motor Company developed ASIMO, which stands for Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility, and is the most advanced humanoid robot in the world. According to the ASIMO Web site, ASIMO is the first humanoid robot in the world that can walk independently and climb stairs.Rather than building a robot that would be another toy, Honda wanted to create a robot that would be a helper for people -- a robot to help around the house, help the elderly, or help someone confined to a wheelchair or bed. ASIMO is 4 feet 3 inches (1.3 meters) high, This allows ASIMO to do the jobs it was created to do without being too big and menacing.ASIMO's Motion: Walk Like a HumanHonda researchers began by studying the legs of insects, mammals, and the motion of a mountain climber with prosthetic legs to better understand the physiology and all of the things that take place when we walk -- particularly in the joints. For example, the fact that we shift our weight using our bodies and especially our arms inorder to balance was very important in getting ASIMO's walking mechanism right. The fact that we have toes that help with our balance was also taken intoconsideration: ASIMO actually has soft projections on its feet that play a similar role to the one our toes play when we walk. This soft material also absorbs impact on the joints, just as our soft tissues do when we walk.ASIMO has hip, knee, and foot joints. Robots have joints that researchers refer to as \degrees of freedom.\A single degree of freedom allows movement either right and left or up and down. ASIMO has 34 degrees of freedom spread over different points of its body in order to allow it to move freely. There are three degrees of freedom in ASIMO's neck, seven on each arm and six on each leg. The number of degrees offreedom necessary for ASIMO's legs was decided by measuring human joint movement while walking on flat ground, climbing stairs and running.ASIMO also has a speed sensor and a gyroscope sensor mounted on its body. They perform the tasks of:? ?sensing the position of ASIMO's body and the speed at which it is moving relaying adjustments for balance to the central computer These sensors work similarly to our inner ears in the way they maintain balance and orientation.ASIMO also has floor surface sensors in its feet and six ultrasonic sensors in its midsection. These sensors enhance ASIMO's ability to interact with its environment by detecting objects around ASIMO and comparing gathered information with maps of the area stored in ASIMO's memory.To accomplish the job our muscles and skin do in sensing muscle power, pressure and joint angles, ASIMO has both joint-angle sensors and a six-axis force sensor.Unless you know a lot about robotics, you may not fully grasp the incredible milestone it is that ASIMO walks as we do. The most significant part of ASIMO's walk is the turning capabilities. Rather than having to stop and shuffle, stop and shuffle, and stop and shuffle into a new direction, ASIMO leans and smoothly turns just like a human. ASIMO can also self-adjust its steps in case it stumbles, is pushed, or otherwise encounters something that alters normal walking.In order to accomplish this, ASIMO's engineers had to find a way to work with the inertial forces created when walking. For example, the earth's gravity creates a force, as does the speed at which you walk. Those two forces are called the \inertial force.\ground, called the \posture has to work to make it happen. This is called the \zero moment point\(ZMP). To control ASIMO's posture, engineers worked on three areas of control:? ?Floor reaction control means that the soles of the feet absorb floor unevenness while still maintaining a firm stance.Target ZMP control means that when ASIMO can't stand firmly and its body begins to fall forward, it maintains position by moving its upper body in the direction opposite the impending fall. At the same time, it speeds up its walking to quickly counterbalance the fall.?Foot-planting location control kicks in when the target ZMP control has been activated. It adjusts the length of the step to regain the right relationship between the position and speed of the body and the length of the step.ASIMO's Motion: Smooth MovesASIMO can sense falling movements and react to them quickly; but ASIMO's engineers wanted more. They wanted the robot to have a smooth gait as well as do something that other robots can't do -- turn without stopping.When we walk around corners, we shift our center of gravity into the turn. ASIMO uses a technology called \predictive movement control,\Intelligent Real-Time Flexible Walking Technology or I-Walk, to accomplish that same thing. ASIMO predicts how much it should shift its center of gravity to the inside of the turn and how long that shift should be maintained. Because this technolgy works in real time, ASIMO can do this without stopping between steps, which other robots must do.Essentially, with every step ASIMO takes, it has to determine its inertia and then predict how its weight needs to be shifted for the next step in order to walk and turn smoothly. It adjusts any of the following factors in order to maintain the right position:? ? ? ?the length of its steps its body position its speedthe direction in which it is steppingWhile reproducing a human-like walk is an amazing achievement, ASIMO can now run at speeds up to 3.7 miles per hour (6 kilometers per hour). In order to qualify as a true running robot, ASIMO must have both feet off the ground for an instant in each step. ASIMO manages to be airborne for .08 seconds with each step while running. Honda engineers encountered an entirely new set of challenges while trying to give ASIMO the ability to run. They gave ASIMO’s torso a degree of freedom to aid in bending and twisting so that the robot could adjust its posture while airborne. Without this ability, ASIMOwould lose control while airborne, possibly spinning in the air or tripping when landing.In order to make turns smoothly while running, the engineers enhanced ASIMO's ability to tilt its center of gravity inside turns to maintain balance and counteractcentrifugal force. ASIMO could even anticipate turns and begin to lean into them before starting the turn, much like you would if you were skiing or skating.ASIMO如何工作介绍如何工作。