無人機(jī)的用途很多，從保護(hù)人們免受瘧疾危害到向偏遠(yuǎn)地區(qū)發(fā)送郵件，使用這種技術(shù)的新方法一直在研發(fā)中。本文介紹無人機(jī)的最新用途。

　　詞匯：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.

　　詞匯表

　　by leaps and bounds 突飛猛進(jìn)地，非常迅速地

　　gadget 小設(shè)備

　　processing power (計(jì)算機(jī))處理(數(shù)據(jù))能力

　　tech 科技設(shè)備

　　kit 成套裝備

　　drone 無人機(jī)

　　pilotless 無人駕駛的

　　aircraft 飛機(jī)，飛行器

　　aerial photography 航空攝影

　　delivery drone 交付無人機(jī)，物流無人機(jī)

　　fleet 機(jī)隊(duì)

　　emissions 碳排放

　　piloted 有人駕駛的

　　air hub 航空樞紐

　　skyport 小機(jī)場

　　spray 噴灑

　　survey 檢查

　　scan 掃描

　　the sky’s the limit 沒有限制的

　　grounded 停飛的

　　airspace 領(lǐng)空

　　noise pollution 噪音污染