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還記得電影《鋼鐵俠》中主角託尼·史塔克強悍的「鋼鐵戰衣」嗎？如今，把機器人穿在身上已不是夢想，可穿戴機器人的誕生預示著，人類與機器真正的較量或許是從融合開始的。
那麼，機器人是怎麼穿在身上的？它又能如何幫助人類呢？小F今天就給大家介紹一款新型可穿戴機器人—— Exoskeletons (外骨骼機器人)。
Photo credit: Getty Images
我們都聽說過，崛起的機器人將取代工廠和倉庫工人的消息。不過，如果類似的技術能讓工人變得更強大，情況會怎麼樣？
英國《金融時報》美國西海岸主編理察·沃特斯（Richard Waters）拖著做過肩部手術的身體，親身試穿了這套名為Suit X的可以增強人類體能的最新外骨骼設備。
以下是小F聽譯的視頻完整文本，供大家參考。
FT記者理察·沃特斯（Richard Waters）：下文簡稱R
仿生技術學公司創始人及執行長Homayoon Kazerooni：下文簡稱H
R: We've all heard about the rise of the robots, how they are going to replace human workers in factories and warehouses. But what if the same technology could be used to make humans stronger? We're here to try out a robot you can wear.
我們都聽說過機器人的崛起，以及他們將取代工廠和倉庫工人的消息。不過，如果類似的技術能讓工人變得更強大，情況會怎麼樣？我們來測試一款能穿在身上的機器人。
Exoskeletons for Everyone
為每個人準備的外骨骼機器人
H: Exoskeletons are robotic devices that are worn by people. They're essentially robotic devices. And theyaugmenta person's ability and minimize the risk of injuries. That's basically the objective of exoskeleton systems.
外骨骼機器人是能穿在身上的設備，它們本質上還是機器人，增強人類能力的同時最小化受傷風險。這是外骨骼系統的根本目標。
augment [?:g'ment] v. 增強
Screenshot: FTC
Exoskeletons have featured in films, in military combat and in hospitalrehabilitation. But Suit X, based in California, wants to make exoskeletons for everyday jobs.
外骨骼機器人在電影、軍事和醫療康復中都起到重要作用，但位於加裡佛利亞的Suit X希望將其用於日常工作。
rehabilitation [?ri:??b?l?'te??n] n. 恢復，康復
H: Everybody is thinking about Iron Man here. Iron Man is the device you wear and you're able to jump over the building. You can run really fast. But the person we're augmenting is a worker doing a regular job every day, eight hours a day.
大家此時想到的都是鋼鐵俠。鋼鐵俠是那種讓你穿上就能跳過樓頂的設備，你還能跑得飛快，但我們現在要幫助的是一位每天八小時做日常工作的工人。
Unlike heavy suits in films, these exoskeletons are designed to be lightweight. They use a system of wires andcounterweightsto take the pressure off lifting a heavy object.
不同於電影中沉重的裝備，這些外骨骼機器人被設計成輕量級的。他們使用一套金屬線和平衡錘來減輕重物的壓力。
counterweight ['ka?nt?(r).we?t] n. 平衡錘
R: So I had a shoulder operation last year, and I can guarantee this is not something I'd be able to do. Imagine for a factory worker who's lading a truck all day long. This would really relieve thestrain.
去年我的肩部做過手術，我完全確定這不是我能做到的。想像一位需要全天裝卸卡車的工廠工人，這套裝備真可以讓他不再那麼勞累。
strain [stre?n] n. 壓力, 重負
Screenshot: FTC
R: Now I've turned the suit off completely. I'm going to try to do the same thing without any power at all.
現在我已經完全關閉了這身裝備，我將嘗試不接電源再做同樣的事。
R: I feel my back taking all of the strainstraight away.
我感到背部馬上承受了所有壓力。
straight away 立刻，馬上
R: Oh, I can feel that in my shoulder. Oh, that's kind of surprising.
噢，我的肩膀也受力了。噢，真讓人有點意外。
H: Currently, people who are getting benefited by these devices are people who have limitedmobilitydisorders, for example,strokepatients. People withspinal cordinjuries is another one. They are confined to wheelchairs, but with our exoskeleton systems, they are able to be upright and mobile and become independent. We can see that continues to the elderly, who don't really need the complete exoskeleton, but they just need a littleboostto be, not to get tired, not to get fatigued, and also not to get injured when you're going downstairs.
目前從這些設備中受益的人群是有行動障礙的人士，比如中風患者或脊柱受損的人。他們只能坐在輪椅上，但藉助於外骨骼機器人系統，他們就能站起身來獨立行動了。可以預見它會延伸至老年人群體。他們並不需要全套的外骨骼機器人，只需要一些助力以便不感到勞累，同時下樓梯時也不會受傷。
mobility [m??'b?l?ti] n. 移動的能力；易於行走的能力
stroke [str??k] n. 中風
spinal cord 脊髓
boost [bu?st] n. 提高，幫助
Complete suits like this currently cost around $12,000, putting them out of many people’s price range.
像這樣成套的外骨骼機器人目前的售價約12000美元，在很多人可接受的範圍外。
H: We are looking atbionicdevices in a consumer product, asaffordableconsumer products, such that workers can buy them, people with mobility disorder can use them.
我們致力於成為消費市場上一款仿生設備，一款消費者買得起的產品。這樣，工人們就能買來用，有行動障礙的人士也可以使用。
bionic [ba?'?n?k] adj. 仿生學的
affordable [??f??(r)d?b(?)l] adj. 負擔得起的
Just under 5,000 exoskeletons were sold worldwide last year, but sales could grow to over 100,000 a year by 2025.
去年全球範圍內的外骨骼機器人只售出5000個，但銷量會在2025年超過10萬臺。
Screenshot: FTC
R: Already, you can feel that this technology, although it's still very early days, has huge potential. It's comfortable to wear. You feel physically stronger. If we are in a race against the robots, I think I've got a better chance this morning.
你已經能從這身裝備中感覺到，儘管這項技術還在很早期，卻潛力巨大，穿起來很舒服，你會感到體力更強。如果我們要與機器人競賽的話，我想今天上午我的取勝機率高了不少。
R: This is Richard Waters in Emeryville for theFinancial Times.
英國《金融時報》理察·沃特斯 發自美國加州愛莫利維爾市
從此變身鋼鐵俠不是夢~