英文阅览软体机器人

椰子油Traditionally, robots have been stiff, *angular entities, made of metal and other rigid materials (think C-3PO in Star Wars). But a team of scientists at Harvard University in the US has managed to build an entirely soft robot – one that draws inspiration from an *octopus.
传统意义上的机器人坚固、棱角清楚，多由金属以及其他刚性材料构成（想想《星球大战》里的C-3PO就知道了）。但遭到一只章鱼的启示，美国哈佛大学的一个科学家团队制作了一个全软体机器人。

Described in science journal Nature, the “Octobot” could pave the way for more effective *automatons that could be used in search and rescue, exploration and to more safely interact with humans.
据科学期刊《天然》描绘，这种“章鱼机器人”为发明更有用的机器人铺平了路途，将来能用于研讨、救援、勘探等方面，和人类互动也更为安全。

“The octobot is a minimal system designed to demonstrate our integrated design and *fabrication strategy,” the study’s authors wrote, “which may serve as a foundation for a new generation of completely soft, autonomous robots.”
“章鱼机器人是一个最小化的体系，其规划体现出了咱们的整合规划以及制作战略，”该研讨的作者写道，“这或许会为新一代全软体主动机器人打下根底。”

Robots built for precise, repetitive movements in a controlled environment don’t do so well on rough *terrains or in unpredictable conditions. And they aren’t especially safe around humans, because they’re made out of hard and heavy parts that could be potentially dangerous to their flesh-and-bone counterparts.
在受控环境中用于重复性准确运动的机器人在高低地势或不行猜测的条件下体现欠安，且对人们而言并非非常安全，由于这些机器人由坚固沉重的部件组成，对人类的血肉之躯来说或许是个潜在的风险。

So researchers have been working on building soft robots for decades. They’ve taken inspiration from nature, looking to animals from jellyfish to *cockroaches, which are often composed of more *malleable matter.
因而，研讨人员们数十年来一直在研讨制作软体机器人。它们从大天然中罗致创意，学习了从水母到甲由等由更多可塑性物质组成的动物。

But creating a completely soft robot remains a challenge. Even if engineers build a *silicone body, it’s still a *feat to construct flexible versions of essential internals, such as *circuitry and a source of power.
但发明出一个全软体机器人依然是个应战。即使工程师们制作出了一个硅胶主体，但能制作出有弹性的电路体系以及电源等必要的内涵部件依然是一大成功。

“Creating a new class of fully soft, autonomous robots is a grand challenge, because it requires soft *analogues of the control and power hardware currently used,” the study’s authors wrote.
“发明新一级全软体主动机器人是个巨大的应战，由于它需求现有的操控以及电源硬件相似的柔性材料，”该研讨的作者写道。

However, researchers from Harvard University managed to do just that. Octobot’s eight arms move thanks to a system of *inflatable *compartments. The moving parts are connected to a network of channels that send liquid fuel to mix with a *platinum-based catalyst inside reaction chambers. As the fuel *decomposes, it releases pressurized oxygen that inflates chambers, allowing the Octobot’s “tentacles” to move.
但是，哈佛大学的研讨人员却做到了这一点。章鱼机器人的八只机械臂由一个充气腔体系来驱动。这些运动部件与一个管道网络相连。这个管道网络能运送液体燃料，将其与反响室中的以铂为质料的催化剂混合。跟着燃料的不断分化，将会释放出充溢整个反响室的加压氧气，让章鱼机器人的“触手”移动。

The movements are controlled by a series of logic gates – basically a fluid-filled version of a circuit board. The scientists managed to create this complex system using several techniques, including *soft-lithography and 3-D printing.
（章鱼机器人）的举动由一系列逻辑门进行操控 —— 基本上便是一个充溢液体的电路板。科学家们设法运用多种技能来发明这一杂乱的体系，包含软光刻技能以及3-D打印技能等等。

Octobot is just the first step toward creating more advanced and capable machines, according to researchers. Its current capabilities are very limited, but designing and building more complex robots will mean integrating several different materials and introducing many new abilities, including more advanced movement, power and control. And despite its current *rudimentary status, octobot shows that this can be done.
研讨人员表明，章鱼机器人是发明更先进、更有才能的机器的第一步。现在章鱼机器人的才能还非常有限，但规划制作更杂乱的机器人将意味着整合多种不同的材料，添加许多新技能，如更先进的工作、电源以及操控体系。虽然章鱼机器人现在还处于初步阶段，但它却展示了做到这一切的可能性。

“Although soft robotics is still in its infancy, it holds great promise for several applications, such as servicing and inspecting machinery, search-and-rescue operations, and exploration,” Barbara Mazzolai and Virgilio Mattoli of the Italian Institute of Technology’s Center for Micro-BioRobotics, wrote in a commentary. “Soft robots might also open up new approaches to improving wellness and quality of life.”
“虽然软体机器人还在雏形阶段，但它在修理查看机械、查找救援举动以及勘察等几种用途上大有可为，”意大利技能研讨院微型仿生机器人中心的芭芭拉·玛祖莱以及维尔吉祥奥·马托蒂在一则谈论中写道。“软体机器人或许还能拓荒改进健康和日子质量的新途径。”