无人机的用途很多，从保护人们免受疟疾危害到向偏远地区发送邮件，使用这种技术的新方法一直在研发中。本文介绍无人机的最新用途。

词汇：Technology 科技

Technology is developing by leaps and bounds. A gadget as small as a smartphone now has more processing power than rockets to the Moon once had. New tech brings many advantages, making our lives easier and opening up new opportunities. One piece of kit that’s been really taking off recently is the drone. This pilotless mini aircraft, originally developed for aerial photography and warfare, is now bringing us benefits closer to home. In the last few years, tech companies such as Amazon, Alphabet and Uber have promised us delivery drones – bringing goods to our doorsteps in a matter of minutes. Progress in developing them has, however, been slow.

Drones are helping to connect with and enhance the lives of people in remote locations. In the UK, the Royal Mail wants a fleet of 500 drones to help deliver the mail to far-flung communities. Windracers, the company developing the drones, say they can fly in fog and produce 30% fewer emissions than comparable piloted aircraft. And in Coventry in the UK, construction has started on an air hub, which will act as a base for police and delivery drones. Urban-Air Port Limited is working with car-maker Hyundai on the mini-airport, known as a skyport.

Drones could also play a part in improving the health of millions of people. In Zanzibar, for example, they’re being used to spray wetlands against malaria. And writing for BBC Future website, Harriet Constable describes an incredible development project by the University of South Australia. The plan is for drones to eventually be able to survey populations for disease by reading the blood oxygen levels of humans from the air. They’ll also be able to scan for other vital signs, like coughing and a high temperature.

It seems the sky’s the limit for what drone technology can achieve. The only thing that sometimes keeps it grounded is regulation. Writing for the BBC, Jessica Brown says: “If our skies are to become as crowded as our streets, airspace rules need updating to prevent accidents.” There are also related problems, such as noise pollution.

词汇表

by leaps and bounds 突飞猛进地，非常迅速地
gadget 小设备
processing power （计算机）处理（数据）能力
tech 科技设备
kit 成套装备
drone 无人机
pilotless 无人驾驶的
aircraft 飞机，飞行器
aerial photography 航空摄影
delivery drone 交付无人机，物流无人机
fleet 机队
emissions 碳排放
piloted 有人驾驶的
air hub 航空枢纽
skyport 小机场
spray 喷洒
survey 检查
scan 扫描
the sky’s the limit 没有限制的
grounded 停飞的
airspace 领空
noise pollution 噪音污染

测验与练习

1.  阅读课文并回答问题。

1. How quickly do tech companies want to deliver goods to your home?

2. Where does the UK’s Royal Mail want to deliver mail to by drone?

3. What might drones be able to do to check for disease in a community?

4. True or false? Drones work by having a mini pilot on board.

5. According to Jessica Brown, why do we need to update airspace rules?

2.  选择意思恰当的单词或词组来完成下列句子。

1. The bus company has bought a new _______ of electric vehicles.

hub                            fleet                           gadget                            survey

2. The speed of our broadband connection has improved _______.

by leap and bound                                       by leaps of bounds                   

by bounds and leaps                                    by leaps and bounds

3. London’s Heathrow airport is a _______ for much of the UK’s international flights.

skyport                       kit                               grounded                        hub

4. My laptop has great _______, so it’s much quicker than yours.

process power           processed power        processing power           power process

5. The _______ say we have to have smoke alarms installed in every room.

emissions                  skyport                        drones                            regulations

答案

1. 阅读课文并回答问题。 

1. How quickly do tech companies want to deliver goods to your home?
Quickly – in a matter of minutes.

2. Where does the UK’s Royal Mail want to deliver mail to by drone?
The Royal Mail wants a fleet of 500 drones to help deliver the mail to far-flung communities.

3. What might drones be able to do to check for any disease in a community?
They may be able to survey populations for disease by reading the blood oxygen levels of humans from the air and scan for other vital signs, like coughing and a high temperature.

4. True or false? Drones work by having a mini pilot on board.
False. Drones are mini aircraft that have no pilot.

5. According to Jessica Brown, why do we need to update airspace rules?
Jessica Brown says: “If our skies are to become as crowded as our streets, airspace rules need updating to prevent accidents, terrorist attacks, and related problems, such as noise pollution.”

2.  选择意思恰当的单词或词组来完成下列句子。

1. The bus company has bought a new fleet of electric vehicles.

2. The speed of our broadband connection has improved by leaps and bounds.

3. London’s Heathrow airport is a hub for much of the UK’s international flights.

4. My laptop has great processing power, so it’s much quicker than yours.

5. The regulations say we have to have smoke alarms installed in every room.