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TRACK 11

Robotic Revolution
ROBOTIC REVOLUTION

Robots look set to take centre stage.

R
Pre-reading
ANSWERS ON PAGE 49

1 obots have come a long way since Leonardo Da Vinci’s 15th century
What can robots do these days? Think of humanoid automaton. We’ve got robots to build cars, defuse
as many things as you can – add to the bombs and explore planets. But things haven’t We’re here
to help!
list below. Then, discuss your ideas with a stopped there. And who knows where it’s going
partner. to end up.
These days, robots can…
… build cars. In 1986, Honda began development of a humanoid robot
… detonate bombs. called ASIMO. The name is an acronym for “Advanced Step
… lift things. in Innovative Mobility”. Since then, the robot has evolved
... talk. amazingly. Standing at 130 centimetres and weighing 54
... walk. kilograms, ASIMO resembles a small astronaut wearing
... fly aircraft. a backpack. And he can walk, fight, climb and run on
two feet at speeds of up to 6 km/h. Scary!
2 Reading I
Read the article once and compare your ideas The world’s first robot teacher is Saya. She can take the
from the Pre-reading activity. register, smile and tell pupils off. With her eerie lifelike
face, she can express six basic emotions: surprise, fear, disgust, GLOSSARY
3 Reading II anger, happiness and sadness. In order to do this, her rubber humanoid adj
like a human in appearance
Read the article again and answer these skin is pulled from the back with motors and an automaton n
a self-operating machine (that
questions. wiring around the eyes and the mouth. She operates from its own power)
1. What is ASIMO an acronym of? can also say simple pre-programmed phrases to defuse a bomb exp
to stop a bomb from exploding by
2. What was Saya’s original role? such as “Thank you”, while her lips move to taking out parts of it
an acronym n
3. How will the robots in the express pleasure. Saya was developed as a word that is made from the initials
hospital be controlled? a receptionist robot in 2004, but was later of other words
to resemble vb
4. What will these robots be tested in a real Tokyo classroom. if A “resembles” B, A looks like (or is
especially useful for? How? like) B
to take the register exp
In the UK, there have been some exciting new developments. if a teacher “takes the register”, he/
4 Language focus The Forth Valley Royal Hospital in Scotland will be the first she reads out a list of names in order
to check who is there
Parts of speech hospital in the UK to use robot workers. The mini-robots (which to tell off phr vb
if you “tell someone off”, you speak
Look at this extract from the article, “...there look like forklift trucks) will deliver food, clean operating angrily to them because you are not
have been some exciting new theatres, collect and dispose of clinical waste, and even happy about something
eerie adj
developments.” The writer has used the dispense drugs. The robots use a rotating laser beam to strange; frightening
disgust n
word “development”. Complete the sentences help them find their way around the long hospital corridors. a feeling of strong hatred or dislike
with the correct form of the word in brackets. “Members of staff will use a hand-held PDA to call up the for something
a forklift truck n
1. Scientists have robot to move meal trays, or linen, or whatever. The robot will a vehicle for lifting (taking
(develop) come up in the service lift by itself, pick up the item and go something to a higher level) heavy
objects. It has a type of large fork at
the robot. back into the lift,” explained Tom McEwen, the project manager the front for doing this
to deliver vb
2. It’s an interesting new for manufacturer Serco. Computers on board the robots can to take something to a destination
(develop). command doors to open, and sensors will tell the robots to stop to dispose of phr vb
to throw away
3. They’ve been if anything – or anyone – is in the way. clinical waste n
(develop) a rubbish (old, dirty things) from a
hospital or clinic
solution to the problem. The robots are especially useful for controlling infection. to dispense drugs exp
to give drugs/medicine that have
4. The land was sold to “Traditionally clean and dirty tasks are carried out by the same been prescribed to patients
(develop). person,” nurse Lesley Shepherd said. “But here, you'll have robots to rotate vb
to move in circles, whilst fixed on a
5. Tobacco consumption is high that do “dirty tasks”, such as collecting dirty sheets or taking away central point
in the clinical waste; and you'll have robots that do “clean tasks”, such a PDA abbr
an abbreviation of “personal digital
(develop) world. as bringing meals and clean linen to patients. The robots have assistant” – a small, hand-held
computer
separate lifts so there’s no way they can cross, which is great.” a meal tray n
5 Discussion Managers said the robots would not replace humans, but would a flat board made of plastic or wood
for serving/carrying food or drinks
1. Do you think we’ll start to see free up more time for staff to spend with patients. They will also linen n
more and more robots in the have to keep at least one human on standby, should any of the sheets/table cloths/napkins, etc.
made from linen or cotton
future? robots break down. a service lift n
a “lift” is a device in a building for
2. Would you ever consider taking you from one floor to another.
having a robot at home to help But if this is what it's like in 2010, what’s it going to be like in 2020? A “service lift” is used by staff for
transporting goods / equipment, etc.
out in the house? Why? – it is not used by the public
3. What dangers could exist with to pick up phr vb
to take something in your hands
more sophisticated robots? Watch ASIMO in action here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3C5sc8b3xM and to move it to a higher area

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