Файл: Методические указания Новосибирск 2009.doc

Unit 8

Robotics

Vocabulary

1. boring (adj) [´bé:rıŋ] скучный

bored (adj) [´bé:d] скучающий

2. capable (adj) [´keıpәbl] способный, умелый

capability (n) [‚keıpә´bılıti] способность;

производительность

3. count on sb/sth (v) рассчитывать на, планировать

4. creature (n) [´kri:t∫ә] создание, существо

5. dangerous (adj) [´deındžәrәs] опасный

6. defuse (v) [di:´fju:z] снимать взрыватель (с бомбы)

7. event (n) [ı´vent] событие

8. explore (v) [ık´splé:] исследовать

9. human (n, adj) [´hju:mәn] человек; человеческий

10. insert (v) [ın´sî:t] вставлять, помещать

11. integrated circuit (n) [´ıntı‚greıtıd ´sîkit] интегральная схема

12. load (n, v) [lә|d] груз; грузить

13. maintain (v) [meın´teın] обслуживать,

содержать в исправности

14. pallet (n) [´pælәt] плита (конвейера)

15. perform (v) [pә´fé:m] делать, выполнять

16. pick up (v) поднимать, подбирать

17. precise (adj) [prı´saız] точный

18. pull (v) [p|l] тянуть, тащить

19. reach (v) достигать, доходить

20. reliable (adj) [rı´laıәbl] надежный

21. repetitive (v) [rı´petıtıv] повторяющийся

22. salary (n) [´sælәrı] зарплата

23. semiconductor (n) [‚semıkәn´dšktә] полупроводник

24. soccer (n) [´sãkә] футбол

25. solder (v) [´sãldә] паять, припаивать

26. supervise (v) [´su:pә‚vaız] наблюдать, надзирать

27. surroundings (n) [sә´ra|ndıŋz] окрестности, окружение

28. tiny (adj) [´taıni] очень маленький, крошечный

29. tired (adj) [´taıәd] уставший

30. weld (v) [weld] сваривать(ся)

8.1. Read the words and guess their meaning.

robot [´rә|‚bãt] volcano [vãl´keınә|] humanoid [´hju:mә‚néıd] intelligent [ın´telıdžәnt] design [dı´zaın] imitate [´ımı‚teıt] manipulate [mә´nıpj|‚leıt] qualify [´kwãlıfaı]

automated [´é:tә‚meıtıd] automaton [é:´tãmәtәn] radioactive [‚reıdıә|´æktıv] coordinate [kә|´é:dı‚neıt] autonomous [é:´tãnәmәs] mobile [´mә|baıl] android [´ændréıd] cyborg [´saı‚bé:g]

8.2. Match the words with similar meaning.

1. autonomous 2. capable 3. clever 4. creature 5. environment 6. to maintain 7. to perform 8. precise

a) able b) being c) to carry out d) exact e) independent f) intelligent g) to look after h) surroundings

8.3. Make up all possible word combinations. Make sentences with the combinations.

1. common 2. dangerous 3. to defuse 4. to explore 5. hard 6. intelligent 7. to make 8. to manipulate 9. precise 10. simple

a) a bomb b) creature c) definition d) job e) machine f) a mistake g) objects h) space i) task j) work

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8.4. Read the text and choose the correct ending for the sentences below.

Robots in Perspective

If you think robots belong to space movies, think again. Right now, all over the world, robots are on the move. Putting chocolates into boxes, walking into live volcanoes, driving trains and defusing bombs are their common tasks. Today's robots are doing more and more things humans can't do or don't want to do.

The idea of creating an intelligent machine is very old. Homer described gold girls, mechanical helpers built by Hephaestus, the Greek god of smiths. In 1495, Leonardo da Vinci designed a mechanical man. But only the invention of transistors and integrated circuits in the 1950s and 1960s made real robots possible. Compact, reliable electronics and computers added brains to already existing machines. In 1959, researchers demonstrated the possibility of robotic manufacturing ashtrays.

The Czech word 'robota', meaning hard work, was first used by the writer Karel Čapek in the story where robots are invented to help people by performing simple tasks, but being used to fight wars, they turn on their human masters and take over the world.

There's no precise definition of a robot. It is normally defined as a programmable machine imitating an intelligent creature. Getting information from its surroundings and doing something physical (moving or manipulating objects) qualify a machine as a robot.

Name a boring or dangerous job. Somewhere, a robot is probably doing it. Robots are ideal for doing jobs that require repetitive, precise and fast movements. Robots are good at doing the same thing without asking for a safe working environment, salary, breaks, food and sleep, without getting bored or tired, without making mistakes. Factories are so highly automated that most human workers carry out only supervising and maintaining the robots.

People keep finding new uses for robots – making and packing drugs and foods, soldering tiny wires to semiconductor chips, inserting integrated circuits onto printed circuit boards used in electronics, working in radioactive ‘hot zones’, exploring space.

All work and no play make anyone dull – even a robot. Soccer-playing robots gather each year at RoboCup, an international event collecting over 100 teams from 35 countries. Robotic players use radio signals to coordinate their actions with their teammates. Teams are placed in divisions based on size, ranging from the size of a pizza box. By 2050, the organizers of RoboCup count on developing a team of fully autonomous humanoid robots that can beat the human world champion team in soccer.
1. The first real robots

1. 
   were built by Hephaestus in ancient Greece.
   
2. 
   were designed by Leonardo da Vinci in 1495.
   
3. 
   were invented by the Czech writer Karel Čapek to help him by performing simple tasks.
   
4. 
   were made possible after the invention of transistors and integrated circuits in the 1950s and 1960s.
   

2. A machine may be called a robot if it

1. 
   can imitate intelligent creatures.
   
2. 
   can get information from its surroundings and manipulate objects.
   
3. 
   is built with compact, reliable electronics.
   
4. 
   is capable of repetitive, precise and fast movements.
   

3. Robots make and pack drugs and foods, insert integrated circuits onto printed circuit boards used in electronics, walk in live volcanoes, defuse bombs, explore space because

1. 
   they are on the move.
   
2. 
   they took over the world.
   
3. 
   they can do dangerous or monotonous things.
   
4. 
   they are intelligent.
   

4. Most human workers in the modern highly automated factories

1. 
   are good at doing the same thing.
   
2. 
   ask for safer working environment.
   
3. 
   get bored and tired very quickly.
   
4. 
   only maintain and supervise the robots.
   

5. The divisions in RoboCup are based on

1. 
   the size of robots.
   
2. 
   the way the robots’ actions are coordinated.
   
3. 
   the countries where the robots were made.
   
4. 
   whether the robots can beat humans.
   

8.5. Find in the text phrasal verbs that mean the following:

1. 
   to be developing or progressing quickly
   
2. 
   to suddenly attack someone, using physical violence or unpleasant words
   
3. 
   to take control of sth
   
4. 
   to be able to do sth well
   
5. 
   to do a particular piece of work, research etc
   
6. 
   to plan or expect that sth will happen
   

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8.6. Translate into English.

1. 
   Робот – это устройство, способное выполнять определенные действия самостоятельно.
   
2. 
   Идея использовать роботов для выполнения монотонной или опасной работы появилась очень давно.
   
3. 
   Сложно осуществить сварку под водой без роботов.
   
4. 
   Современные промышленные роботы выполняют некоторые задачи даже лучше, чем люди, потому что они не ошибаются.
   
5. 
   В Массачусетском технологическом институте (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MIT) был разработан «роболобстер», имитирующий способность лобстера определять наличие химикатов в окружающей его воде.
   
6. 
   Кроме футбольного Робокубка (RoboCup), существуют другие спортивные мероприятия для роботов, например Робоволейбол (Robot Volley Ball), организуемый Британской ассоциацией содействия развитию науки (The British Association for the Advancement of Science).
   

8.7. Discuss the following:

1. Why did people create robots?

2. Why are some people against robots?

3. Continue the sentence: “Robots are people’s _____”.
8.8. Read this short text, then match each robot type with the appropriate definition.

Classification of Types of Robot

One way of classifying robots is in terms of their similarity to humans. An automaton is any machine capable of operating independently, such as a clothes dryer. A flexible machine is a special case of an automaton with different capabilities, that can be programmed as the need arises. An example is a welding robot on the factory floor that can be programmed to participate in other production operations. A mobile robot is a flexible machine capable of moving freely in its own environment. It can partly select its own goals and communicates with other agents, including humans. An android or humanoid is a mobile robot whose structure approximately resembles a human structure. Finally, a cyborg is a humanoid with organic structures. Cyborgs have some physiological structures similar to those of humans.

1.  Mobile robot 2.  Cyborg 3.  Automaton 4.  Flexible machine 5.  Android/ Humanoid

a) machine capable of independent operation following a predetermined series of behaviours, e.g. a cuckoo clock b) flexible machine capable of moving and communicating with humans, e.g. a sentry robot c) humanoid having both organic and inorganic structures, with some physiological similarity to humans d) mobile robot of human proportions e) versatile, programmable automaton, e.g. an assembly robot

8.9. Now renumber the robot types, 1–5 (1 = the most similar to humans; 5 = the simplest).

What type of work can each of the types be used for? Provide examples.

8.10. What can these robots do? Say what you think. What type of robot do they belong to?

8.11. Listen to different people talking about the robots to check your answers and number the photos in the order you hear about them.
8.12. Listen again and say which robot:

1. 
   is fully automatic.
   
2. 
   can reach 15 metres.
   
3. 
   is an electronic pet.
   
4. 
   has vacuum gripper feet.
   
5. 
   is the solution for dirty windows.
   
6. 
   is designed to save floor space.
   

The Complex Subject

Verbs and Word Groups	The Complex Subject	Translation
Verb in the Passive: sense perception: to see, to hear, to notice mental activity: to think, to consider, to believe, to expect, to suppose, to know order and permission: to order, to ask, to offer, to tell, to allow, to let, to encourage, to make reporting: to say, to report, to announce	An old man was seen to walk and play with AIBO like with a real dog. Japanese engineers are believed to develop a new model of AIBO every year. to be developing a new model of AIBO now. to have developed AIBO as an electronic friend for old people. A new model of AIBO is believed to be developed every year. AIBO is believed to have been developed as an electronic friend for old people. The designer was asked to demonstrate the capabilities of the new model of AIBO. Japanese engineers are reported to develop a new model of AIBO every year.	Видели, как пожилой человек гулял и играл … Считается, что японские инженеры конструируют … … сконструировали … Считается, что новую модель конст-руируют … … был сконструирован … Разработчика попросили продемонстрировать … Сообщают, что японские инженеры конструируют …

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Продолжение таблицы

Verbs and Word Groups	The Complex Subject	Translation
Pairs of synonyms: to seem/to appear, to happen/to chance, to prove/to turn out	to be developing a new model of AIBO at the moment. to have developed AIBO as an electronic friend for old people. A new model of AIBO is reported to be developed every year. AIBO is reported to have been developed as an electronic friend for old people. The results of the work don’t seem to satisfy the researchers. The researchers seemed to be satisfied with the results of their work. The two scientists happen to be working on similar projects. A group of first-year students turned out to have developed the robot which won the competition. The robot which won the competition turned out to have been developed by a group of first-year students.	… сконструировали … Сообщают, что новую модель конструируют … … был сконструирован … Кажется, результаты работы не устраивают … Казалось, исследователи были удовлетворены … Эти двое ученых случайно работают … Оказалось, что сту-денты первого кур-са сконструировали … Оказалось, что робот был сконструирован …

Окончание таблицы

Verbs and Word Groups	The Complex Subject	Translation
Word groups: to be likely, to be unlikely, to be sure/to be certain	Electronic pets are not likely to replace real cats and dogs. Real cats and dogs are unlikely to be replaced by electronic pets. Engineers are likely to be developing robots for using in the home. The designers are sure to have created the robot in order to test their theory. The robot is certain to have been created in order to test some theory.	Электронные домашние любимцы вряд ли заменят … Живых кошек и со-бак вряд ли заменят …. Инженеры, вероятно, конструируют … Конструкторы наверняка создали … Робот, несомненно, был создан …

8.13. Which is right?

1. 
   Robots are supposed to be used/to be using for doing boring or dangerous jobs.
   
2. 
   Engineers seem to be working/to have worked on new types of robots that will help doctors perform surgical operations.
   
3. 
   Robots are known toapply/to have been applied in industry for about 50 years.
   
4. 
   Scientists are expected to develop/to be developed robotic parts of the body for disabled people.
   
5. 
   The programmer proved to make/to have made a mistake, that is why the robot soldered the wires in the wrong way.
   
6. 
   People are not likely to do/to have done any manual work at the highly automated factories of the future.
   

8.14. Replace the following complex sentences with simple sentences with the Complex Subject.

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Model: The developers of the robot dog AIBO say that it understands the name you give it.

AIBO is said to understand the name you give it.

1. 
   People consider that Japanese companies make the most advanced humanoid robots in the world.
   
2. 
   Aerospace engineers expect that robots will successfully perform different tasks in space.
   
3. 
   It is likely that the robot being developed by the researches of our laboratory will be used for eye surgery.
   
4. 
   The journal reports that scientists imitated muscle structure and movement of an elephant's trunk in order to create a robotic arm capable of lifting heavy objects.
   
5. 
   It appears that the scientists of this research institute are designing nanorobots for drug delivery.
   
6. 
   It turned out that robots are extremely good at inserting integrated circuits onto printed circuit boards used in electronics.
   

8.15. Translate the part of the sentence in brackets into English.

1. 
   The idea of creating a mechanical helper seems (появилась) together with the mankind.
   
2. 
   Robots proved (очень эффективны) in automobile industry.
   
3. 
   The bomb was reported (была обезврежена) by a robot.
   
4. 
   Scientists are considered (проектируют) robots that will be able to learn like children.
   
5. 
   The trains of the future are likely (будут управляться) by robots.
   
6. 
   By 2050 a team of fully autonomous humanoid robots is expected (смогут обыграть) the human world champion team in soccer.
   

8.16. Translate into English.

1. 
   Известно, что слово «робот» впервые использовал чешский писатель Карел Чапек, образовав его от чешского слова ‘robota’, означающего тяжелый принудительный труд.
   
2. 
   Оказалось, что роботы прекрасно выполняют задачи, требующие точных и быстрых повторяющихся движений.
   
3. 
   Сообщают, что в Массачусетском технологическом институте (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MIT) разрабатывают роботов, способных учиться, как маленькие дети.
   
4. 
   Проектируя вакуумные «ноги» этого робота, ученые, скорее всего, пытались имитировать способность ящерицы геккон (gecko) передвигаться по любым поверхностям, даже вертикальным и гладким.
   
5. 
   Кажется, роботы нашли применение во всех сферах жизни: от упаковки конфет в коробки и сборки автомобильных двигателей до обезвреживания бомб и сложных хирургических операций.
   
6. 
   В футболе современные роботы вряд ли смогут составить конкуренцию игрокам-людям.
   

8.17. Using the diagram to help you, fill in the gaps in the text with the words given. Use your dictionary if necessary.

Co-ordination of control in robots

The diagram shows a (1) _____ system for the force required to (2) _____ an object. The desired level of force is fed into the control module, which (3) _____ it with the actual amount of force as indicated by the feedback signal. The discrepancy enters the command generator, which determines the (4) _____ and extent of adjustment necessary. The resulting command passes into an amplifier which produces power (5) _____ to the level of the input signal. The power drives a motor (6) _____ to some linkage such as a set of gears. The mechanical linkage in the robotic hand ultimately (7) _____ the initial command signal into displacement at the fingertips.

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