节目资讯
刊物:空中英语教室
日期:2012-06-27
难易度:High
关键字:irregular, segment, stabilize, prototype, oil skimmer, oil slick
Protei designers are very generous and that they have made the Protei technology
open-source hardware.
In other words, they're not in this to make money.
They're doing it to share Protei technology with the world, thus, saving time,
money, resources and the environment.
OK. Let's wrap up the reading down on line 13.
(Music).
Protei: An Answer to Oil Spills.
To resolve this problem, Harada's team gave Protei a flexible body with segments
that shift as it moves.
When the sailboat turns to face the wind, its body curves, letting the wind hit
its sails from two different angles.
This stabilizes Protei enough to enable it to complete the turn.
Protei has passed through six prototype stages, each of which improved its
design to enhance its effectiveness.
The team presented Protei's first full-sized, functional prototype to the world
in September 2011,
and it hopes to make Protei available as soon as possible.
(Music).
Well, Protei is an amazing machine.
It can collect the oil without having a man in the boat as well as helps protect
the environment by sailing with wind power instead of burning fuel.
But also sailing with wind, Ryan, we see it can also be a problem.
That's right.
The wind power can be an issue because when oil... an oil slick is sitting on
top of the water, it follows the wind.
The wind blows it around.
And if a boat is driven by the wind, then it's also going to go in the same
direction, and it's better if it's going in the opposite direction.
So how do we solve this problem?
That's right.
We heard the problem right before the break was when a wind-driven boat faces
the wind, it loses control with no force driving it.
So how do we get control of this?
Well, to resolve this problem, Harada's team gave Protei a flexible body with
segments that shift as it moves.
OK. So now most sailboats have just the sail that sits on top, but this boat has
different segments.
And a "segment" is a part of something, usually it's different parts of things
that when combined make a whole.
That's right.
So the boat itself is not just one piece.
It has different segments so that the body of the boat can move and flex with
the natural shape of the wind and the waves so it won't turn over.
Yeah. We see the word "shift." That means to move slightly.
And I kind of think of this is almost moving like a fish.
It seems, in my mind, that it kind of moves around in the water.
And how does this actually solve our problem?
Well, when the sailboat turns to face the wind, its body curves, letting the
wind hits sails from two different angles.
So you get this curved shape that allows it to move more smoothly.
OK, so this, actually, it keeps it more stable.
And the wind is sitting at two places, it is more firm and has a better... it
can hold on to the water a little better.
That's right.
And we say it stabilizes Protei enough to enable it to complete the turns.
So as the wind changes, it doesn't just fall over.
Instead, it curves and slightly turns with it.
We see that word, to stabilize, means what, Ryan?
OK. If something is "stabilized," that means it is firm.
That means it is fixed and will not change.
It stops moving.
So when we say "it stabilized," it is moving in the sense it's on top of the
water changing directions, but it's not going to fall over.
It's not going to fall over.
So this is a good thing.
That means now this boat can move away from the wind and can better pick up the
oil.
Well, we have some more information on that. So let's visit the Information
Station.
You know, Bill, cleaning up oil spills is a dangerous and dirty job.
That's for sure, Bryan.
Recently, scientists have developed a new way to clean up these spills.
And so to learn more about it, we need to go to...
Information Station.
Today we're going to interview Captain Morgan, the former driver of an
oil-cleaning boat.
Captain, is it true that your job may be replaced by Protei - an unmanned boat
designed to clean up oil spills?
No way, mister.
Unmanned or unwomanned boats are never a good idea.
But Captain Morgan, they say Protei sensors are more accurate than human vision.
Are you sure you can compete with that?
Don't make me laugh, young man.
I can spot an oil slick from 10 miles away.
I see.
But what about protecting human drivers like yourself from exposure to toxic oil
and tar?
I've been around a lot of oil and tar, and I never...
Did you say toxic?
Yes, toxic.
Oh. Then protecting human drivers like me is a good idea.
I'm all for that.
Say, Captain, can you operate in the harshest conditions like Protei can?
Let me tell you about harsh conditions, Mr. landlover.
I can survive any storm Mother Nature can dish out.
Including a hurricane?
Oh.
Now that's a different story.
Anyone who pilots a boat in a hurricane is asking for trouble.
Then the Protei might be a good alternative since it can operate even in
hurricane season.
I know you want me to say that Protei is the answer and that I need to find a
new job.
And you almost convinced me.
This might convince you, Captain, Protei runs only on wind power.
Your boat burns gas and oil.
OK. I can see where Protei may be more environmentally friendly.
But... but... rats!
I guess Protei beats the old-fashioned way, hands down.
Yes, it sure seems that way, Captain Morgan.
But don't worry.
I'm sure you can find another job.
Yes, she surely will, Bill.
And we'll see you all next time here at...
Information Station.
All right. Protei has passed through six prototype stages.
That's right.
A "prototype" is the example... it's the first example of something before it is
fully developed.
So you have a prototype, and then it keeps getting better and better and better
and better.
And each stage is its own section of the prototype.
OK. So it's a first draft, a second draft and so on, until the final product.
And each of those prototypes improved its design to enhance its effectiveness.
It became more effective.
And that's exactly why we use prototypes because you build it and improve on it
as you go instead of just assuming your first design is the best design.
OK. The team presented Protei's first full-sized, functional prototype to the
world in September 2011.
And it helps to make Protei available as soon as possible.
So hopefully, this can be seen to helping technology helping clean up oil spills
all of the world as soon as it can get out there.
I hope so.
And we hope there are no more major oil spills to worry about.
But if there are, this seems like a great way to deal with them.
Well, to follow the progress of Protei, visit their website, Protei.org.
Now let's visit the Chat Room.
Yes, I know it's damaged very badly.
But please do your best.
This is one of our most popular books.
So I need it back ASAP.
OK. Thanks for your help. Bye.
Hey, Bryan, what were you talking about?
Did something get broken?
Yes. One of our most popular books got damaged.
So I sent it to get repaired.
I hope it doesn't take too long, though.
There are five people waiting for this book.
That's a lot of people.
You just said you need it ASAP?
Is that some kind of library code?
No, it's no code.
It's an abbreviation that lots of people use.
It stands for As Soon As Possible.
Oh, so you want the book back right away.
Yep, you got it.
So do Americans always shorten the phrase as soon as possible to ASAP?
Not always. Sometimes we'll just say as soon as possible.
But I think we use ASAP more often.
And actually, sometimes we shorten it even more.
How can you shorten it even more?
We pronounce it like one word.
So instead of ASAP, we might say asap.
Asap. Interesting.
Well, I hope they get the book fixed soon.
So do I.
A lot of people want to check the book out as soon as it gets fixed.
I see.
Bryan, instead of saying as soon as possible, you said they want to check the
book out as soon as it gets fixed?
Yes, I did.
To say that A will happen as soon as B happens means that once B happens, A will
happen right away.
So when the book gets fixed, people will want to take it out right away?
Yes. So I hope they manage to repair it soon.
Well, if this book is so popular, maybe I should check it out as soon as it's
available.
(Chinese).
(Chinese).
And that concludes our Language Tips today. See you tomorrow.
Bye-bye.
Thanks, Michelle.
The massive oil disaster of two 2010 in the Gulf of Mexico inspired MIT
researcher Cesar Harada to design an unmanned sailboat to help clean up oil
spills.
Protei is safe, reliable, and because it runs on wind power, environmentally
friendly.
The flexible body of Protei helps stabilize it when it sails against the wind.
Protei has the potential to serve in other ways too.
There's been talk that the floating drone could be used to help clean up the
Pacific Ocean garbage patch.
Do you remember that?
OK.
Friends, let's meet again tomorrow, same time, same place.
Take care.