向意念控制机器人迈进的一步

浙江杭州市富阳区新登中学 胡君祥

机器人会思考吗？机器人会不会不受控制？美国科学家发明了一项可以通过意念控制机器人的新技术。

题材科技文章词数 难度 建议用时新闻报道体裁365 ★★★ 7 分钟

难词探意

1. detection /dɪ΄tekʃn/ n. 察觉；发现

2. candidate /΄kændɪdət/ n. 应试者

3. mechanical /mə΄kænɪkl/ adj. 机械的

Researchers at MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab (CSAIL) and Boston University have created a system where humans can guide robots with their brainwaves. For now, the MIT system can only handle simple activities, but the researchers see a future where one day we could control robots in more natural ways, like allowing an operator on a factory floor to control a robot without ever pushing a button. “Imagine you look at the robots, and at some point one robot is not doing the job correctly,” CSAIL Director Daniela Rus explained. “You will have that thought, and through this detection you would in fact communicate remotely with the robot to say ‘stop’.” Rus admits the MIT development is a baby step, but she says it's an important step toward improving the way humans and robots interact.

The MIT paper shows it's possible to have a robot read your mind—at least when it comes to a very simple task. And this system could one day help people who can't communicate orally, says Andres Salazar-Gomez, a Boston University PhD candidate working with the CSAIL research team.

In this study, researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology used a robot named Baxter who was a volunteer wearing an EEG cap that could read electrical activity in the brain. If he noticed a mistake, he would naturally send out a brain signal known as an “error-related potential”.

“You can use that signal to tell a robot to stop or you can use that to change the action of the robot,”Rus explained.

The system then translates that brain signal to Baxter, so he understands he's wrong. His cheeks turn red to show he's embarrassed, and he corrects his behavior.

The MIT system corrected the robot's behavior 70 percent of the time.

Rus imagines a future where anybody can communicate with a robot without any training. “Imagine you have your robot pick up and sort all the toys and socks from the floor,” she said. She says that would save her a lot of time, but for now the mechanical house cleaner that can read your mind is still a dream.

Reading Check

1. What does the author try to explain in paragraph 3?

A. The limitations of the MIT development.

B. More natural human-robot communication.

C. The difficulties with creating the new system.

D. Necessary steps to improve robots' performance.

2. Who may benefit from the CSAIL team's system?

A. Those who sell paintings. B. Those who have headaches.

C. Those who are unable to speak. D. Those who learn foreign languages.

3. When would Baxter receive a brain signal during the experiment?

A. After he discovered his error. B. After he completed his work.

C. After he felt embarrassed. D. After he noticed a mistake.

4. What does Rus think of the MIT system?

A. It has a long way to go. B. It will be hard to operate.

C. It will come on the market soon. D. It proves to be a hopeless attempt.

5. What is the main purpose of writing the text?

A. To promote research on robots' activity. B. To explain the technology of robotics.

C. To discuss the brainwaves of robots. D. To report a mind-controlled robot.

Language Study

Difficult sentence

In this study, researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology used a robot named Baxter who was a volunteer wearing an EEG cap that could read electrical activity in the brain.

【翻译】_______________________________________________________________________________

【点石成金】在本句中，who was a volunteer wearing an EEG cap是定语从句，先行词是Baxter；that could read electrical activity in the brain也是定语从句，先行词是cap。