On Satellite Vision-aided Robotics Experiment
机器人技术应用-空中机器人
18722261
TangLei 1
Aerial Robotics
One Two Three Four
Background ,History and Applications
Background ,History and Applications
Current Challenges
combines lightweight electric engines with wing-mounted solar panels
With aninert,low-density at mosphereon Mars,such a vehicle relies on a rocket engine for propulsion
From the mid 1980s on, the development of aerial robots has followed an exponential pace
The number of machines currently under development or in operation,which exceeds 200 vehicle types
➢Civilian and Private Applications
Small-scale
Long-term scientific applications
film making Environmental surveys
atmospheric sampling experiment
With the progressive introduction of aerial robots in the regulatory framework of many countries, we believe that intermittent applications of aerial robotics in populated areas will eventually become commonplace
视听说教程第三册听力原文
Unit 1 Lesson 1VideoHome ListeningA conservation group says 163 newly discovered species of plantsand animals in the Greater Mekong region of Southeast Asiawhere the Mekong River 1) flows are at risk of extinction becauseof rising global temperatures.Some of the most 2) unusual animalsincluded a frog with fangs in Thailand that eats birds and a leopard-spottedgecko found on an island in Vietnam. But in a report 3) released in Bangkokon Friday, the WWF says that temperatures in the region are 4) expected torise by as much as four degrees Celsius in the next 60 years and that couldthreaten their existence.The WWF says rare and endangered species are at the greatest 5) risk from climate change, because rising temperatures could affect food 6) supplies or cause weather problems that damage habitats. The newly discovered species that live at the tops of mountains only or low-lying islands only, like this Cat Ba gecko that was just found are 7) especially vulnerable to climate-change impacts because of their restricted habitats. More than 1,000 new species have been discovered in the Greater Mekong region in the past 8) decade.Changes to wildlife in the Mekong area could also affect many of the 60 million people who depend on the river for their livelihoods. Of all the region‟s the WWF works in, the Mekong region 9) probably has the closest link between its resource and human livelihood than any other region in the world.The WWF report comes just days ahead of a major United Nations meeting in Bangkok on climate change. The Bangkok meeting will 10) try to narrow down a framework agreement on global emission targets to be negotiated at the end of this year.Unit 2Lesson 1AudioScriptWhen it comes to intelligence, there has always been one fundamental question: Is intelligence a function of nature? Is it simply encoded in a child‟s genes? Or is it a function of nurture? Is it more about the environment that a child grows up in?On the one hand, if we take two people at random from the crowd, it is very likely that their degrees of intelligence will be completely different. However, if we take two identical twins, chances are that they will be as intelligent as each other. Therefore, a conclusion can be drawn thatintelligence is to some extent something we are born with. On the other hand, though, if we put identical twins in different environments, we would find differences in their intelligence several years later, which indicates that environment does play a crucial role in people‟s intelligence.Recently, data has clearly indicated that nurture is indeed more than 50% of the equation. That is good news for educators, but even better news for society as a whole.Fortunately, President Obama has come out in strong support of early childhood education, particularly for those children most at risk of school failure. Investing in quality pre-school opportunities clearly helps give children from poverty-stricken areas the chance at a stronger start in school and in life.If we are serious about helping our children succeed in school, if we are truly interested in “Leaving No Child Behind,” we will take a hard look at t his compelling data and begin investing greater sums at the early childhood level.VideoScriptEinstein‟s destiny as a great physicist was not obvious. As a child, his passion was music, not physics.“I often think in music. I live my daydreams in music. If I were not a physicist, I would probably be a musician.”But Einstein‟s life changed when he was given a book on geometry. The universe could be tamed through numbers. His life‟s work would be to control the music of the universe.During his life, Einstein changed our concept of space and time forever. He harnessed energy, mass and the speed of light in the most famous equation all time – E equals MC‟ square.What made Einstein‟s brain so exceptional? Dr. Jim Al-Khalili, like Einstein, is a physicist and is obsessed by the work of his hero. Brain specialist,Mark Lythgoe hunts for secrets of creativity inside the human mind.“My name is Dr. Jim Al-Khalili I believe Einstein‟s genius came from his imagination, and no man or no machine can measure that. Am I right?”“M y name is Dr. Mark Lythgoe and I believe that Einstein‟s genius comes from nerve cells, which can be analyzed. We can find out what made Einstein a genius. Am I right?”So which view is correct? To solve the riddle of Einstein‟s genius, Mark and Jim would have to journey to America to hunt down and examine Einstein‟s disembodied brain. Nature or nurture? Biology or training? Are geniuses born or are they made? Neurophysiologist Dr. Mark Lythgoe is a keen climber and finds parallels between his hobby and his profession.“N ow, there are two scenarios for how the brain works. The first scenario is the brain is like a muscle. Now I‟ve trained to develop the stamina in my muscle, hopefully then I can hold on to this hole for a period of time. The second is that the brain is like a skeleton and it doesn‟t matter how much I‟ve trained, I‟m never, ever going to be able to reach that hole right up there. “Now, in Einstein‟s day they believed that the brain was like a skeleton that had natural limits, but that view is changing today. Instead, it is now understood that more and more parts of the brain behave like a muscle. They can expand with use. Then, if all of our brains are like muscles, could it be that we all have the ability to become Einstein?”Lesson 2AudioAlbert Einstein was a German-born physicist, although most people probably know him as the most intelligent person who ever lived. His name has become part of many languages when we want to say someone is a genius, as in the phr ase, “She‟s a real Einstein”. He must have been pretty brainy to discover the Theory of Relativity and the equation e=mc2.In 1999, Time Magazine named Einstein as the Person of the Century. No one could have guessed this would happen when he was in school. He was extremely interested in science but hated the system of learning things by rote memory. He said it destroyed learning and creativity. He had already done many experiments but failed the entrance exams to a technical college.He didn‟t let this s etback stop him. When he was 16, he performed his famous experiment of imagining traveling alongside a beam of light. He eventually graduated from university, in 1900, with a degree in physics.Twelve years later he was a university professor and in 1921, he won the Nobel Prize for Physics. He went on to publish over 300 scientific papers.Einstein is the only scientist to become a cult figure, a household name and part of everyday culture. He once joked that when people stopped him in the street, he alway s replied, “Pardon me, sorry! Always I am mistaken for Professor Einstein.” Today, he is seen as the typical mad, absent-minded professor, who just happened to change our world.VideoScriptSo Einstein‟s brain has given up some of its secrets to Mark and Jim. In the battle of biology versus ideas, Jim and Mark have each scored points. Seemingly, Einstein was born with overlaps in his brain. These overlaps may have meant maths and spatial thinking were more intuitive to him. Thinking like a child let him see the world in a unique way. And his unique, perhaps autistic, level of concentration, forced his brain to expand like a muscle. Extra glial cells were needed to cope with the extra demand, possibly helping make the maths area in the brain more than 15% wider than normal. All these effects united to give Einstein a mind unlike any other, perhaps the greatest mind in history. In the future, could we preserve a genius like Einstein in something better than the jar? Imagine a brave new world, where a genius‟brain could be copied onto silicon using microscopic robots called nanobots. This is the vision of the futurologist Ray Kurzweil.“I think by the 2020s or the late 2020s, we will have completely reverse engineered the brain and understand how all the diff erent regions work. It‟ll take us longer to be able to scan the entire brain and get capture of every detail of someone‟s personality. The blood vessels of the brain go everywhere, and so if we send billions of nanobots through the capillaries of the brain, they can scan everything in the brain of a specific person at very high resolution. Then you could create a machine, a non-biological entity, that would simulate a specific person‟s brain and that simulation will act just like that person, and if you the n talk to that simulation, you‟d be convinced that it was that person.”“I am little worried about whether I‟m talking to the real Ray or he‟s at home having a cup of tea.”“Well, I worry about that too. Once we understand the basic principles of operatio n of how the brain works, we can take a brain-like system and expose it to a complicated problem and the system will learn on its own. It can actually do it thousands maybe eventually millions of times faster than a real human brain and actually develop skills that are far greater than a human being isSo a future Einstein could be put on a computer, literally a ghost in the machine.“Do you believe that, you know, just by looking at that, genius is– or genius is something else for you?It‟s a k ey moment. Has Mark won Jim round?“Day by day, I‟ve been changing my views. I‟ve been–I started off feeling that Einstein‟s ideas have gone forever. What he thought of, what he‟s capable of imagining were something of the past. I‟m not so sure now. I fe el somehow there are still, maybe, possibly, some secrets locked inside in this jar.”Home ListeningMost people know that Albert Einstein was a famous scientist who came up with the formula e=mc2. But do you know other facts about this 1) genius?When Einstein died in 1955, his body was cremated and his ashes 2) scattered according to his wishes. However, before his body was cremated, Thomas Harvey at Princeton Hospital 3) conducted an autopsy in which he removed Einstein‟s brain. Rather than putting the brain back in the body, Harvey decided to keep it for study. Harvey did not have 4) permission to keep Einstein‟s brain, but days later, he 5) convinced Einstein‟s son that it would help science. Shortly thereafter, Harvey was fired from his position at Princeton because he refused to give up Einstein‟s brain. For the next four 6) decades, Harvey k ept Einstein‟s chopped-up brain in two mason jars with him as he moved around the country.Einstein‟s mother, Pauline, was an 7) accomplished pianist and wanted her son to love music too, so she started him on violin lessons when he was six years old. Unfortunately, at first, Einstein hated playing the violin. 8) He would much rather build houses of cards, which he was really good at, or do just about anything else. When Einstein was 13-years old, he suddenly changed his mind about the violin when he heard the music of Mozart. 9) With a new passion for playing, Einstein continued to play the violin until the last few years of his life.Part of Einstein‟s charm was his disheveled look. In addition to his uncombed hair, one of Einstein‟s peculiar habits was to never wear socks. 10) Whether it was while out sailing or at a formal dinner at the White House, Einstein went without socks everywhere. To Einstein, socks were a pain because they often would get holes in them. Plus, why wear both socks and shoes when one of them would do just fine?Unit 3Lesson 1AudioScriptMcDonald‟s Corporation (MCD) is one of the leading fast-food restaurant chains in the world, touching the lives of people every day. As the world‟s largest chain of restaurants, it primarily sells hamburgers, chicken, french fries, milkshakes, soft drinks, etc.The business began in 1940, with a restaurant opened by brothers Dick and Mac McDonald. Initially, they just owned a hotdog stand. But after establishing the restaurant they served around 25 items, which were mostly barbecued. It became a popular and profitable teen hangout.Their introduction of the “Speed Service System” in 1948 established the principles of the modern fast-food restaurant. The present corporation dates its founding to the opening of a franchised restaurant by Ray Kroc on April 15, 1955.In effect, Kroc opened his first and the overall ninth restaurant in Chicago, Illinois, and gave birth to McDonald‟s Corporation. In 1958, the restaurant chain sold its 100 millionth hamburger. In 1960, Kroc renamed his company as “McDonald‟s Corporation”. In 1961, Kroc convinced the McDonald brothers to sell the business rights to him in the company. Thus he purchased the brothers‟ equity for a sum of $2.7million and led to its worldwide expansion.As McDonald‟s expands successfully into many international markets, the company became a symbol of globalization and the spread of the American way of life. Its prominence also made it a frequent subject of public debates about obesity, corporate ethics and consumer responsibility. VideoScriptTanya: It‟s the fast food chain with the iconic golden arches that have been spotted all over the world. Yes, we are talking about McDonald‟s. But did you know McDonald‟s, year after year, is voted one of the best places to work? We‟re looking today at this all-American company and what we can learn from its success. We‟re joined by Paul Facella, author of the book, Everything I Know About Business, I Learned At McDonald’s: The Seven Leadership Principles That Drive Breakout Success. Paul was a former McDonald‟s executive who has the behind-the-scenes story on the world‟s most successful restaurant organization. Hi there, Paul. Thanks for joining us. Paul: Thank you, Tanya. Nice to be here.Tanya: Now, while you no longer work for McDonald‟s, I understand that the company has had a huge impact on your life. Tell us why you decided to write a book on business lessons that you learned from a fast food chain.Paul: Sure. Well, not only myself but literally hundreds of thousands of people that went to the McDonald‟s system and were guided by a lot of the principles. When I left McDonald‟s, I went into consulting and, and one of the surprises I had was many of the organizations, both large and small, was the fact that some of the basic principles, some of the foundations that good organizations need to be successful, weren‟t there. And I was constantly being asked about, “Well, tell me how you did in McDonald‟s”. And my thinking was, “Gee, I‟ll write a book about it and help my client base and I‟ll be able to help them move forward with it.” So that was the thinking behind it.Tanya: Well, we‟re gonna get into some of those secrets of success. I wanna start by asking you, you know, obviously a lot of people know McDonald‟s for their burgers and Big Macs. But, I‟m sure a lot people will be surprised to know that it has one of the highest corporate employee retention rates of any company, I mean people assume, fast food chain, people just want to get in and get out. What makes McDonald‟s so successful?Paul:I think, I think there‟s a number of factors, but I think the retention piece is about McDonald‟s, when you work, there it‟s really about a meritocracy. It is about advancement that is based on achievement. And from the first crew person moving in all the way up to store manager, all the way up to the present CEO, Jim Skinner, who was a crew person 35 years ago and moved into, after 35 years, moved into the CEO ranks. So it‟s always been a progression of opportunity for people, and I think that's one of the great things that keeps folks there. Every CEO has gone through the ranks.Tanya: Is there any crossover from those who work on the server side to the executive side, or you have to go back to school for that?Paul: Oh, no, all the time, I mean, I started as a 16-year-old crew person. Mike Quinlan, who‟s a CEO for 14 years started in the mail room, so there‟s plenty of crossover.Lesson 2AudioScriptSince setting up the first McDonald‟s in China, the Western restaurant chain has been expanding steadily and successfully. So far, other than the home market–the United States–China is the No. 1 growth market for McDona ld‟s, with over 1000 restaurants and over 60,000 employees.China also represents one third of all capital expenditures in the Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa region, where the fast-food giant is in 37 markets. According to Skinner, vice-chairman and CEO of this world‟s largest fast-food company, “We‟ve been steadily growing with China for the past 20 years and are very excited for what the future holds,” he says.In 1990, McDonald‟s chose Shenzhen, a pioneer Special Economic Zone in Guangdong province bordering Hong Kong, to open its first 500-seat store in the developing market. McDonald‟s quickly won over the local consumers, due to its many attractions like its Ronald McDonald clown, Golden Arches or the yellow “M” logo, Big Mac, the smiling attendants and the quick service. The success of the Shenzhen outlet prompted McDonald‟s to expand its chain nationwide. And McDonald‟s has not stopped from aggressively increasing the number of its outlets in China. The mainland‟s fast-food market is growing at a rate of16 percent per year. “We are going to continue our growth at a faster rate in China. China is a huge market with great opportunities for businesses around the world, and it's no different for McDonald‟s,” Skinner adds.VideoScriptT anya: And in your book, you‟ve broken down some of the keys, the fundamental keys of McDonald‟s success, in terms that can be applied to other companies. So, let‟s go through these one by one. The first you say is honesty and integrity, and this obviously comes at a time when so many people have lost trust in Wall Street. How can we apply this?Paul: Yeah, I think, it‟s, well, honesty and integrity started very early on with Ray Kroc who started the McDonald‟s system in 1955, and back then franchise s were just starting to proliferate, and there were not a lot of laws about how they would conduct businesses. And one of the things was done, sadly, was that many of those franchisors would take commissions back from suppliers that supplied the franchisees product. From the beginning, that's now how we‟re gonna do businesses. We‟re gonna have integrity, we‟re gonna be honest with our franchisees, I wanna the franchisees to make the first dollar, I‟ll make the second dollar, and that kind of got into the DNA very early. And to this day, there is a wonderful relationship of integrity and honesty with our relationships with our operators, with our vendors.Tanya: And I would imagine that motivates everybody because you feel like if you do well, you will get rewarded.Paul:That‟s correct. Absolutely, no question about that. How important everybody working together as a team is!Tanya: Right, and another secret to McDonalds‟ success, I understand, is relationships, and the company apparently promotes the idea that relationships are sort of the secret sauce, as, if you will, and everyone who works for the company is a part of an extended family, is that right?Paul: The Mcfamily!Tanya: Yeah.Paul: It's a great safe way from honesty and integrity. If you start with the foundation of honesty [and] integrity, it goes right into relationships. And Fred Turner, who is still to this day, 54 years later, is active, was actually the one that coined the phrase “the three-legged stool”. What it really meant was, that there were three legs in our relationship: the franchisees, the suppliers and the company people. And all of us pulling together, and working together as a team and the synergy of that team, is how it will be successful. And if you think about that, you know how important that is, that you really don‟t want to let your team members down and you want them to be successful. Tanya: Sure, and every leg of the stool is only as strong as the other leg, right?Paul: Absolutely.Tanya: And another secret is the idea of standards. One of the McDonalds‟ mottos, apparently, is never be satisfied? [Yes.] Tell us about the company‟s no excuses working environment.Paul: Yeah, well, standards are very important and you know is – in order to have a standard, you have that measurement, and if it‟s worth doing, it‟s worth measuring. And every time you measure something, performance improves because people have a guideline –they know where they‟re going, and that, that‟s actually part of even the people side of that. The meritocracy wasn‟t based on anything, but clear metrics on how you advance through the ranks on that. But it was never satisfied, we always felt we could do it harder, quicker, faster. And that stayed one step ahead of the competition and kept our franchisees the best in the system.Home ListeningInternational business is a term used to collectively describe all commercial transactions (private and governmental, sales, investments, logistics,and transportation) that take place between two or more nations. Usually, private companies 1) undertake such transactions for profit; governments for profit and for political reasons. It refers to all business activities which involve cross 2) border transactions of goods, services and resources between two or more nations. Transaction of economic resources include capital, skills, people, etc. for international production of physical goods, and services such as finance, banking, 3) insurance, construction, etc.The increase in international business and in foreign 4) investment has created a need for executives with knowledge of foreign languages and skills in cross-cultural communication. Americans, however, have not been well trained in either area and, consequently, have not enjoyed the same level of success in 5) negotiation in an international arena as their foreign counterparts. Negotiating is the process of communicating back and forth for the purpose of reaching an agreement. It involves persuasion and compromise, but in order to 6) participate in either one, the negotiators must understand the ways in which people are persuaded and how compromise is reached within the culture of the negotiation.In studies of American negotiators abroad, several traits have been 7) identified that undermine the negotiator‟s position, two of which, in particular, are directness and 8) impatience. Furthermore, American negotiators often insist on realizing short-term goals. Foreign negotiators, on the other hand, may value the relationship established between negotiators and may be willing to invest time in it for long-term benefits. 9) In order to solidify the relationship, they may chooseindirect interactions without regard for the time involved in getting to know the other negotiator. Clearly, perceptions and differences in values affect the outcomes of negotiations and the success of negotiators. 10) For Americans to play a more effective role in international business negotiations, they must put forth more effort to improve cross-cultural understanding.Unit 4Lesson1AudioScriptA leading US scientist has predicted that computers will be as intelligent as humans by 2029. Futurologist Dr Ray Kurzweil told the American Association for the Advancement of Science that in the near future, machine intelligence will overtake the power of the human brain. He said that within two decades computers will be able to think quicker than humans. Dr Kurzweil painted a picture of us having tiny robots called nanobots implanted in our brain to boost our intelligence and health. He told reporters that these microscopic nanobots would work with our brains to make us think faster and give us more powerful memories. Kurzweil explained that we are already “a human machine civilization” and that the upcoming technology “will be a further extension of that.”Dr Kurzweil was one of 18 top intellectuals asked by the US National Academy of Engineering to identify our greatest technological challenges. Other experts included Google founder Larry Page and the human genome pioneer Dr Craig Venter. Kurzweil has a very impressive background in science and innovation. He was an innovator in various fields of computing, including the technology behind CDs. He also pioneered automatic speech recognition by machines. He predicts the pace of new inventions will increase greatly from now, saying: “…the next half century will see 32 times more technical progress than the past half century.” This means scenes from science fiction movies, like Blade Runner, The Terminator and I Robot, will become more and more a part of our everyday lives.VideoScriptSurrogates today are more like Gina Scanlon and Jennifer (again, first name only), both from the Pittsburgh area.Scanlon, 42 years old, is a portrait painter and mother of three. She delivered twins as a surrogate two years ago. And now, in part because her husband Brian needs expensive surgery, Scanlon is pregnant again.In contrast, this is Jennifer‟s first try as a surrogate. She‟s a 36-year-old stay-at-home mother of two.Jennifer: Being a mother, I can‟t imagine life without my children and so you know. It really came to the fact that I would really like to help another couple have a child that they otherwise could not.Anchor: What about you Gina? What do you think is inside of you that said, …I want to be a surrogate‟?Gina: I love being pregnant. It‟s a great experience. And having met friends and family whoexperienced infertility, their choices are limited. I felt that I wanted to do this for someone else. Anchor: Did you ever worry, first time, that you would not want to give up those babies?Gina: It was never something that entered my mind.Anchor: Never at all?Gina: No. You go into it with the thought that this is for someone else. It is not your baby to give up. It‟s their baby from the start. And the end is the reward: The end is being able to deliver this baby and turn it over to the parents. And see, they‟ve been waiting for years for this to happen. And it finally happens when they‟re holding their own child. And it‟s so worth it.Paying a surrogate remains illegal in several parts in the United States.It‟s also against the law in most of Europe, which is why Sylvia and Michaela came all the way from Italy to the La Jolla IVF Clinic in California.Sylvia lost her uterus –and almost her life –after a miscarriage. The couple watched as embryos created through his sperm and her eggs were placed inside the body of a 30-year-old surrogate –a woman they‟d earlier communicated with from afar but never before met.The process took just minutes.Michaela: It is inconceivable to have done this maybe 30 years ago.A few weeks later, they will learn the procedure was a success –and it‟s twins.Sylvia: A miracle!The miracle has a high price. The fee for the entire surrogacy process ranges from $80,000 to well over $100,000.Of that, doctors get $9,000 to $15,000; agencies, $15,000 to $20,000; and the surrogates? First-timers get $18,000 to $25,000; experienced surrogates, up to $40,000. And in this tough economy, applications from potential surrogates are escalating. Still, Brisman says, of the 100 to 200 applications received every week, she only accepts about five to ten.Anchor: Some feminists who say, you know, this is like “womb for rent”; “mother for hire”; “it‟s like prostituting yourselves.” What‟s your reaction to that?Jennifer: It‟s, it‟s kind of offensive. It‟s insulting. It‟s very insulting.Anchor: Does it make you angry when you hear something like that?Jennifer: A little bit, yeah.Gina:It‟s a service that you‟re providing, if you want to think of it that way. More than, it‟s an exploitation of your body. You‟re not selling your body.All the same, surrogacy remains an act raising questions about our whole notion of motherhood, that unmistakable bond between mother and child.Brisman: The definition of motherhood is changing over time. Like, it‟s not necessarily the woman who gives birth is the mother. It‟s very hard for people to accept. I th ink in a few years or, you know, maybe ten years, this is just going to be old news.Lesson 2AudioScriptThe scientists who launched the Human Genome Project believed in the power of genetic information to transform health care to allow earlier diagnosis of diseases than ever before and to fuel the creation of powerful new medicines.But it was also clear that genetic information could potentially be used in ways that are。
利用卫星云图预测地震英文版
INTRODUCTIONThis publication consists of 11 selected papers from workshops organized by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, within the framework of the Programme on Space Applications in 2004.The Programme on Space Applications was established in 1971, with one of its main objectives to further general knowledge and experiences in the field of space technology between developed and developing countries. The Programme organizes around ten workshops, seminars and training courses on an annual basis for students and professionals from developing countries with the aim of increasing local capabilities in space technologies, thus helping to promote the peaceful use of outer space, in accordance with United Nations goals and principles. These activities bring together professionals from developed and developing countries and allow for an exchange of information in several space-related fields, including telecommunications, remote sensing and satellite applications, global environment and land resources management and international space regulations.This volume of “Seminars of the United Nations Programme on Space Applications” is the sixteenth publication in an annual series that began in 1989. The selected papers discuss a variety of science policy issues and are published in the language of submission.CONTENTS Introduction (iii)I. Application-based themesSpace-based Data: Between Pure Science and Down-to-Earth Application in IndonesiaThomas Djamaluddin (3)Status of the Cospas-Sarsat SystemVladislav Studenov (17)From Freedom to Alpha: Cooperation within the International Space Station Darly Henriques da Silva (25)Bam Earthquake Prediction & Space TechnologyDarrell Harrington and Zhonghao Shou (39)II. Knowledge-based themesBasic Space Science in Arab Countries: Past, Present & FutureHamid M.K. Al-Naimiy (67)New Explanation for Length Shortening of the New Crescent MoonA.H. Sultan (83)The Impact of Historical Chinese Astronomical RecordsZhen-Ru Wang (93)The Basic Space Science Initiative: Capacity Building in Developing Countries Bhavini Patel (101)The Applicability of Space Law Principles to Basic Space Science: An Update Sriram Swaminathan (117)III. Enabling technologiesAmateur Satellites as a Vehicle for Satellite Communication Education Jonathan Newport (145)IV. Cross-cutting issuesWhat is the International Heliophysical Year (IHY)?N.U. Crooker (155)BAM EARTHQUAKE PREDICTION &SPACE TECHNOLOGYDarrell Harrington and Zhonghao ShouEarthquake Prediction Center, New York*, USAzhonghao_shou@IntroductionThe principal application of space technology to earthquake prediction has traditionally been in the form of measurements of ground motion. While this approach has contributed significantly to geophysical studies, it has not yet yielded an earthquake prediction method. An alternative approach that has recently shown great promise is satellite imaging of strange non-meteorological cloud formations and their correlation with earthquakes. Shou used such a cloud (see Fig. 1) to predict the earthquake of 26 December 2003 in Bam, Islamic Republic of Iran, to the public. Coarse and fine predictions were made public on the internet (@1) at 17:58 UTC, 25 December 2003. The fine prediction stated that there would be an earthquake of magnitude more than or equal to 5.5 within 60 days along a fault described in Fig. 1, while the coarse prediction allowed magnitude 5 and above, within 98 days. The Bam earthquake occurred precisely on the predicted fault, and its magnitude was within the predicted magnitude windows.*500E 63rd 19K, New York, NY 10021; The first known record of this kind of earthquake precursor is the Chronicle of Lon-De County, China, 381 years ago (recompiled in 1935): "It was sunny and warm; the sky was blue and clear. Suddenly, there appeared threads of black clouds spanning the sky like a long snake. The cloud stayed for a long time, so there would be an earthquake"(1). The predicted earthquake was the 7.0 magnitude Guyuan (36.5 N, 106.3 E), Ningxia province earthquake on 25 October 1622. It was the only big one in Western China (< 110 E) within 148 years from 26 July 1561 to 13 October 1709 (2), so this prediction is remarkable.This method was recently revived in Japan and China. On the morning of 6 March 1978, Kagida, the former mayor of Nara city, Japan, predicted the 7.8 Kantow earthquake on 7 March by the clouds (1). He also proposed that the epicentre of an earthquake would be located in the mid-perpendicular plane of the clouds, which later proved to be incorrect. Following this successful prediction, there was a brief period of activity in the scientific communities in China and Japan. Three kinds of earthquake clouds: rope-shaped, rib-shaped (we denote it wave-shaped), and radiation-shaped, were announced. Unfortunately, the connection between clouds and earthquakes faded from view after 1985.On the other hand, Shou made his first earthquake prediction in Hangzhou (30.25N, 120.17E), China, by a long line-shaped cloud with a tail pointing in the northwest direction on 20 June 1990. 18 hours later, a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Iran, and killed or injured 370,000 people. Because the earthquake was the only one bigger than 7 to the northwest of Hangzhou for 333 days from 31 May 1990 to 28 April 1991, Shou believed that there must be a strong relationship between the cloud and the earthquake. As long as the epicentre was not located by Kagida's law, but on where the cloud's tail pointed toward, he believed that the method of earthquake clouds should not have been abandoned.Over the last 10 years, with the aid of satellite weather images available on the internet (@2-10),Shou has observed similar correlations in sufficient numbers to enable the development of a successful earthquake prediction method. He has used this method to generate 50 independent predictions certified by the United States Geological Survey (USGS), of which 36 were correct. This paper will describe a model to explain the correlations, a statistical analysis of the set of predictions and prospects for improving both the precision and reliability of the predictions.Earthquake Cloud ModelShou first proposed a model for the formation of earthquake clouds (2). When a huge rock is stressed by external forces, its weak parts break first and small earthquakes occur. For example, the Southern California earthquake data (@11) show that small shocks happened before and around all large hypocentres there (Table 1). The fact that a large earthquake produces a large gap suggests that small shocks generate small crevices, which reduce the cohesion of the rock. Next, underground water percolates into the crevices. Its expansion, contraction and chemistry further reduce the cohesion. Frictionheats the water and eventually generates vapour at high temperature and pressure. The vapour erupts from an impending hypocentre to the surface by the crevices, and rises up. It forms a cloud while encountering cold air. This kind of cloud, whose vapour is from an impending hypocentre, is denoted an earthquake cloud. Anecdotal evidence for high temperature and high pressure vapour is plentiful (2-16), as is evidence for the clouds themselves. Fig. 2 shows damage to the ceiling of a structurally intact building due to the eruption of steam from underneath it during the 7.8 Tangshan earthquake on 28 July 1976(17).Table 1: All big earthquakes in Southern California and their foreshocks(1981~2004)within 5 km within 10 kmNo.Date Time UTC Lat. Lon. Mag. ML Dep. km All Over All Over 119871124 1:54 33.09 -115.79 6.210.8125 4 138 10219871124 13:15 33.02 -115.85 6.611.181867 558 33319920423 4:50 33.96 -116.32 6.112.33321 3 1602 14419920628 11:57 34.20 -116.447.30.97166146 520 461519920628 15:05 34.20 -116.83 6.3 5.38141128 345 256619940117 12:30 34.21 -118.54 6.718.409 2 79 5719991016 9:46 34.59 -116.277.10.02250226 430 3738 20031222 19:15 35.71 -121.106.57.0112 1 37 7Note:1. All above data are from the new catalogue of the Southern California Earthquake Data Center of the USGS since 1981(@11), covering a region of 32~37N. Column8~9 and 10~11 indicate the number of foreshocks within 5 km and 10 km of anepicentre.2. Lat. Latitude. Lon. Longitude. Mag. Magnitude. Dep. Depth.3. ‘Over’ depicts the number of foreshocks, whose depths are more than or equal to a big earthquake. For example, earthquake No. 1 has 138 foreshocks within adistance of 10 km to the epicentre, in which 10 foreshocks are deeper than orequal to 10.81 km of the magnitude 6.2 hypocentre.All large earthquakes have foreshocks around their hypocentresNot only does the vapour forming the cloud originate in the Earth, but its creation is intimately linked to the subsequent earthquake. There are two important pieces of evidence. First, the USGS performed an experiment at the Rangely Oil Field in Western Colorado, USA, in 1969 (18), in which water was injected into and pumped out of oil wells. Researchers found that there was a strong positive correlation between the quantity of water injected and seismic activity. Above a certain threshold of fluid pore pressure, seismic activity was observed to increase dramatically. Supporting this work are the results of laboratory studies of yield strength of saturated rock. As the rock is heated, the yield strength changes only gradually until a threshold temperature is reached. Past this threshold, the rock becomes dehydrated and its yield strength drops rapidly (Fig.10, (19)).Our earthquake model demonstrates that the vapour in an earthquake cloud is precisely what escapes at the beginning of dehydration, i.e. when the yield strength begins to drop sharply. Once the yield strength has dropped sufficiently, the rock yields and an earthquake occurs. Thus, the atmospheric precursor we have discussed is directly linked to the generation of the earthquake itself.An earthquake cloud can be distinguished from weather clouds by the following properties: a sudden appearance; a fixed source location (a fault); and a special shape such as a line, a snake, a few parallel lines, a bind of parallel waves, a feather, a radiationor a lantern pattern (2). These properties do not occur together in weather clouds (20). Fig.3 reveals a time series of the Bam cloud that appeared suddenly from a fixed source (the Bam fault) at 2:00, 20 December 2003. The dense cloud formed in the midst of light clouds and expanded eastward while remaining connected to its source. Two animations can be viewed by accessing the following website: /SHOU.zip.Fig. 4 depicts several examples of suddenly appearing earthquake clouds over Southern California, including a cloud that appeared over Northridge direction nine days before the Northridge earthquake of 1994. Fig. 5, a photo looking towards Northern California on 3 August 1997 shows a cloudless line marked 4 that appeared in the midst of clouds and became a linear cloud six minutes after the photo was taken. Before the photo was taken, four cloudless lines had emerged rapidly, much faster than a jet trail. Two, marked 1 and 2, had entirely become line-shaped clouds and one, marked 3, had partially become a cloud for about three minutes. On 21 August 1997, a pair of magnitude 4.9 earthquakes occurred in Northern California. The width of these features and their rapid emergence strongly support the theory that hot vapour emerges rapidly from a line-shaped region of ground (i.e. a fault).An earthquake cloud comes from an impending hypocentre, so its tail generally points toward or predicts an impending epicentre. The more mass an earthquake cloud has, the bigger the subsequent earthquake. By comparing the mass of an earthquake cloud with those of former clouds, whose relevant magnitudes are in an earthquake catalogue, the cloud can be used to predict its magnitude. Based on statistics from about 500 events, the longest delay from an earthquake cloud to its earthquake is 103 days, and their average is 30 days, so an earthquake cloud can predict the time. Therefore, an earthquake cloud can predict an earthquake. The Bam cloud is an excellent example to show that an earthquake cloud does in fact come from the Earth.Geothermal EruptionThe Bam cloud was unusual since it emerged exactly from the epicentre. This was likely because its hot vapour condensed into a cloud immediately due to very cold surroundings at night during the winter. However, in many cases the vapour released at the epicentre does not immediately encounter atmospheric conditions suitable for condensation into a cloud. As a result, there is often a large distance between the first appearance of an earthquake cloud and its source. Since the cloud’s travel time and direction are not well-known, this greatly reduces the precision, or specificity, of the prediction.In the search for a solution to this problem, Shou identified another atmospheric phenomenon in images from weather satellites, which we denote geothermal eruption, or geoeruption. Geoeruption is qualitatively different from earthquake cloud although they have the same source, the impending epicentre. There are two key ingredients enabling the observer to distinguish this phenomenon in satellite weather images. First, geoeruption emerges as a sudden localized atmospheric heating or disappearance of cloud, often occurring in the morning or evening, or covered by weather clouds or fog. In some cases the size of the emergence region is limited by the resolution of the public satellite images, about 10 km. Since the warm region often grows rapidly after its onset, to as large as 50x50 km2 after one hour, variation in the size of the emergence is as likely to be an artifact of the finite frequency of the images, which varies from hourly to twice per day, as to have any physical significance. The second characteristic is the persistence of the warm region despite the presence of moving clouds overlapping or in the vicinity. Typically, the warm region expands while its source point remains warm through the duration, which can be up to several days, but is normally less than one day. We believe that the emergence region of this phenomenon precisely identifies the impending epicentre. Fig. 6 shows a snapshot of several simultaneous geoeruptions in Taiwan on 30 January 2000. Over the next 46 days, one or more earthquakes of magnitude greater than 4 occurred at each of the pinpointed warm regions (Table 2). Figure 6: Taiwan geothermal eruption This image from the Geostationary Meteorological Satellite (GMS) over Taiwan at 3:00 on 30 January 2000 was provided by Dundee University, UK (@2). Several dark spots, indicating warm regions, appear in the midst of cloud cover. Their unusual appearance leads us to believe that they were not weather-related, but instead were geothermal eruptions. Over the next 46 days, a series of eight earthquakes occurred at exactly the locations of the dark spots, as shown by the arrows. The earthquake data are shown in Table 2. The mottled appearance of parts of the image is a result of magnifying a small jpeg file.-47-Table 2: Taiwan Geoeruptions vs. Earthquakes GeoeruptionsDate UTC 20000130 Time P Lat. N 3:00 1 24.4 2 3 4 5 6 7 24.0 23.5 23.2 23.2 22.2 22.2 Lon. E 121.1 121.2 120.7 120.7 120.7 121.4 121.8EarthquakesDate UTC 000131 000216 000130 000131 000215 000216 000226 000316Time21:11 19:48 20:21 2:57 21:33 0:33 8:23 0:37Lat. N 24.37 24.35 23.90 23.90 23.51 23.35 23.33 23.33 22.24 22.06Lon. E 120.9 120.8 121.31 121.31 120.48 120.93 120.75 120.75 121.37 121.62Mag. ML mb 4.6 4.0 4.8 4.1 4.8 4.2 5.3 5.6 4.5 4.1 5.0 4.8Dep.Km 4.2 7.4 33 7.5 4.7 33 21.1 13.4 33 33S T T U T T U T T U UNote: 1. P: point number. Lat. latitude. Lon. longitude. Mag. magnitude. Dep. depth. S: source. U: the USGS (@12). T: the Central Weather Bureau of Taiwan (@16), received by Journalist Simin Li. 2. The latitudes and longitudes of the geoeruptions were calculated directly from the image, and have an uncertainty of 0.2°. 3. The average latitude and longitude absolute errors between the earthquake and the geoeruption point of origin are 0.09° and 0.15°, respectively. Fig. 7 shows a time series of images taken over the Eastern Mediterranean from 8:00 23 February to 2:00 24 February 2000. Based on these images, Shou made a prediction certified by the USGS on 28 February 2000 that there would be a magnitude 5 or two magnitude 4 earthquakes within a coarse window of latitude 36.5N to 38.5N, longitude 36E to 39E (shown in the figure) and 50 days from 28 February to 18 April, and a fine window of latitude 37N to 37.8N, longitude 36.8E to 37.2E (too small to show) and 17 days from 25 March to 10 April. The prediction was correct, as two earthquakes occurred at point B, well within the coarse window, at the edge of the fine window, and coinciding with a bulge in the geoeruption. No other earthquakes of magnitude bigger than or equal to 4 have occurred in the fine area window in more than 14 years since the beginning of the database on 1 January 1990. Within the fine time window, the predicted pair were the only earthquakes bigger than or equal to 4 in the region 29~44N, 31~48E, a region 637 times larger than the predicted area. Earthquakes also occurred later at points A and C, again coinciding with geoeruption features (Table 3). Similar to an earthquake cloud, a geoeruption can predict an earthquake for three reasons. First, its tail points toward the epicentre. Second, its mass indicates the-48-magnitude. Third, its longest observed delay is 104 days, and the average is about 30 days.Figure 7: Turkey geothermal eruptions This series of IndoEx satellite images of the Eastern Mediterranean was provided by Dundee University (@2). A geoeruption had occurred in Turkey at Point A (37N, 36.1E) at 8:00 on 23 February 2000, and disappeared at 15:00. Meanwhile, another warm spot appeared at Point X and grew toward the northeast. Two small bulges appeared at Points B (37.8N, 37.2E) and C (38.2N, 38E) at 21:00. Based on the feature at Point B, Shou predicted an earthquake to the USGS. The coarse area window of the prediction is shown by the black rectangle and the fine area window coincides with Point B. Two earthquakes of magnitude 4.2 and 4.4 occurred at Point B on 2 April 2000, 39 days later. Earthquakes also occurred at A on 12 May and C on 7 May. All data are shown in Table 3.-49-Table 3: Turkey Geoeruptions vs. Earthquakes GeoeruptionsDate UTC 20000223 Time P Lat. N 8:00 A 37.0 21:00 B 37.8 22:00 C 38.2 Lon. E 36.1 37.2 38.0EarthquakesDate UTC 000512 000402 000402 000507 000507Time3:01 11:41 17:26 9:08 23:10Lat. N 37.05 37.57 37.65 38.18 38.16Lon. E 36.08 37.19 37.23 38.75 38.78Mag. mb 4.7 4.2 4.4 4.2 4.5Dep.Km 10 9 9 1.6 5.4Note: P. Point of a geoeruption in Fig. 7. Lat. Latitude. Lon. Longitude. Mag. Magnitude. Dep. Depth. The earthquake data are from the USGS (@12), and the average latitude and longitude absolute errors between the earthquake data and the geoeruption data are 0.10° and 0.32°, respectively. Statistical Significance In order to objectively evaluate the significance of an earthquake prediction, Shou proposed a probability calculation to simulate a random time guess. From a comprehensive earthquake database, select all earthquakes whose epicentres are within the predicted area and whose sizes are within the predicted magnitude range. Consider all time windows of the same time span as the prediction, using 1-day resolution. If a time window guess contains one or more of those selected earthquakes, it is a hit. Let A be the number of all hits, and B be the number of all time windows, then the probability for a random guess with the same time span to be correct is A/B (2). Table 4 selects all earthquakes of magnitude more than or equal to 5 in Fault AB from the World Earthquake Catalog of the USGS (@12) from 1 January 1990 to 20 December 2003, a total of 5102 days. The coarse time span of Shou’s Bam prediction is 98 days, so B= 5102-98+1=5005. The table reveals A=98, so the probability is A/B=1.96% for the coarse prediction. For the fine prediction, there was no earthquake in the database, so its probability is close to 0. Therefore, the Bam earthquake prediction shows that earthquakes can be predicted in practice. Table 4: the probability of the Bam earthquake predictionLatitude(N) 19900101 19980610 20031220 Sum Probability 28.27 Longitude(E) 58.54 Magnitude 5.4 Coarse hits 98 98 98/5005 Fine hits 0 0 0/5043-50-Note: The period from 1 January 1990 to 20 December 2003 contains 5102 days. For the coarse prediction, it has 5102-98+1 = 5005 different time windows, whose spans are as the same as the predicted span, 98 days, such as (19900101~19900408), (19900102~19900409), etc. The database lists only one magnitude 5.4 earthquake in the coarse prediction area window. A total of 98 time windows, those beginning from 5 March to 10 June 1998 include the magnitude 5.4, so A=98 and its probability is 98/5005, or 1.96%. The database lists no earthquakes of magnitude 5.5 or greater in the fine prediction area window. Out of 5043 time windows of length 60 days, there are no hits, so the fine prediction probability is negligibly small (less than ~1/5000). Based on observations of earthquake clouds and geoeruptions, both visible and infrared satellite images, Shou submitted 50 earthquake predictions between 1994 and 2001 to be certified by the USGS. Table 5 exhibits all of them, and their subsequent earthquakes, as reported in USGS databases. Assuming all earthquake data is without error, so called “Peer on”, 34 predictions or 68% of them are correct in time, location and magnitude. They are called “hits”, while the others are called “misses”. To evaluate the statistics, we adopt an unpublished method by Jones (@13) and Jones (@14) to evaluate a set of independent predictions. If a prediction has a probability p, it is assigned a positive score –ln p when it is a hit, or a negative score ln (1-p) when a miss (21). For a set of predictions, the normalized score S is the total score (sum of the individual scores) divided by the standard deviation of the total score. The distribution of S can be approximated as a normal distribution and thus the probability for a random guesser to equal or exceed the score is evaluated from the normal distribution (22) or (@15). For Shou’s 50 certified predictions, the total score is 3.84, giving a chance of only 0.00062, or 1 in 16,000 for a random guesser. We also performed a direct computer simulation of the random guesser, which gave a chance of 0.00018, or 1 in 5,000 to achieve 34 or more correct predictions out of 50, given the calculated probabilities for individual predictions. This clear statistical significance validates the prediction method.-51-Table 5: Shou’s 50 Earthquake Predictions reported to the USGSt M 4~5.5 13.8 27.1 73.1 79.6 20.0 99.9 48.1 100.0 8.9 27.1 31.6 28.5 44.8 48.0 98.1 5.9 6 5.1 -118.65 -118.43 35.8 36.63 33.4 16:11 16:36 >=6 204 14:33 38.57 38.56 37.07 -117.64 31.41 -116.35 -118.5 -118.49 70.09 4.9 4.5 4 4.5 4.8 4.9 4.8 6.1 44.1 1 0.78 0.48 93.7 63.4 35.6 3:14 50.2 34.1 1 1 0 1 0 0.18 0.53 -0.52 0.69 -0.51 0.47 0.50 0.50 0.48 0.50 12.8 79.4 1 1 1.91 0.37 0.54 0.54 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 0.00 -0.22 -0.44 -0.48 -0.45 -0.63 0.72 0.08 1 0.72 0.48 0.00 0.51 0.52 0.51 0.52 0.48 0.48 0.30 1 0.01 0.05 0 -0.37 0.54 1 0.37 0.54 1 0.44 0.52 1 1.18 0.52 1 1.84 0.54 5~7 >=4 3.7~5.5 >=6 >=5 >=5 >=4 >=5 >=5 3.7~5.3 >=4.5 >=6 4~5.3 >=4.5 >=6 406 >=4 427 3.7~5.3 4~5.3 >=5.5 >=4 >=4 821 726 630 21:48 524 4:36 506 19:12 35.45 11:09 34.38 426 10:37 34.37 4:36 39.54 77 -118.67 405 23:46 39.51 76.87 1208 23:52 14.99 -94.02 5 1217 4:03 36.08 -117.65 4 1231 12:41 15.83 -92.97 6.4 1127 20:17 36.08 -117.65 5.3 521 20:50 37.36 -121.72 4.8 1021 2:39 16.84 -93.47 7.2 630 11:58 24.69 -110.23 6.2 326 14:32 31.26 -114.35 4.2 1027 17:45 43.52 -127.43 6.3 1004 13:22 43.77 147.32 8.3 1025 0:54 36.36 70.96 6.2 615 5:59 34.31 -118.4 4.2 512 0:22 25.07 -109.28 5.6 406 19:01 34.19 -117.1 5 Date 225 Time 12:59 Lat. 34.36 Lon. -118.48 M 4.1 Prob. (%) Hit Score Var. i o n s E a r t h q u a k e sPredicNo.1Date 940213Time (LT) 0213~0310Location Around Pas.29403300330~0424Cal.39404230423~0518N Mex., S Cal.49406030603~0628S Cal.59409100910~092520~50, 0~7569409160916~1011Japan ~ Ale. < 500km79410181018~1112USA89503070307~0401Mex., S Cal.99506300630~0720S Cal.109510111011~1105Cal.119605100510~0530S Cal.129610251025~1119S Cal.139611251125~1220Mex. ~ Peru149612041204~1229S Cal., N Mex. >30N159612061206~0105Mex.169703060306~0405N China >35N0405 20:36179704240424~0610S Cal.189704270427~0611S Cal.199705080508~0608S Cal.209705280528~0712Turkey & Med. >=15E219707180719~0809S Cal.229708040804~0828S Cal.239801050105~021825~41, 53~105P M >=5 79.5 31.7 99.3 54.9 72.3 69.9 61.8 77.6 1 0.39 0.53 1 0.55 0.49 1 0.47 0.51 1 0.45 0.52 1 0.63 0.48 1 0.03 0.17 0 -0.49 0.51 1 0.37 0.54 >=4 >=4.5 4~5.5 >=4.5 4.2~5.4 >=5.5 4~5.2 19:34 >=4 83.1 40.0 79.5 61.9 4.7 15.7 0.0 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 0.33 0.86 0.37 0.55 -0.15 -0.32 0.00 >=4 >=5 4~5.3 >=5 >=4.3 >=7 209 210 210 210 210 >=4.5 >=6 >=4 >=6 921 >=4 >=5.5 1031 818 920 322 21:22 13:24 2:40 7:56 1:06 730 12:25 409 10:48 32.69 33.9 40.48 23.57 23.47 33.51 37.91 23:00 -27.63 23:00 -27.58 14:18 -27.66 65.68 65.78 65.76 -115.39 139.38 -126.18 70.28 70.07 -116.51 -122.69 14:18 -27.58 65.73 5.7 5.7 5.5 5.6 4.3 6.5 4.7 4.7 4.5 5.2 5 8.4 6.0 0 0 -0.22 -0.17 0.51 0.47 21.6 32.2 80.0 0.0 0 1 1 0 -0.38 1.03 0.37 0.00 0.53 0.51 0.54 0.00 18:40 -27.69 65.71 5 209 18:40 -27.62 65.72 5 1114 14:20 34.84 -116.41 4.5 817 10:41 29.41 105.61 4.8 711 18:20 35.73 -118.48 4.6 615 20:42 18.39 -97.44 7 601 15:18 32.37 -115.24 5.1 514 7:54 34.06 -116.37 4.9 30.25 -115.61 4.4 0.54 0.49 0.54 0.49 0.43 0.54 0.00 428 19:08 30.3 -115.54 4.5 304 5:38 28.34 57.19 6.6 125 18:52 36.81 -116.04 4.2 1212 1:41 37.51 -116.29 4.5 801 6:01 37.58 -118.78 4.4 425 11:19 17.68 -94.19 5.2 507 23:15 19.22 -155.51 4.3 Date 203 Time 3:02 Lat. 15.88 Lon. -96.3 M 6.4 Prob. (%) Hit Score Var.redictionsEarthquak esNo.24Date 980106Time (LT) 0106~0220Location Mex.259803090309~042315~30, <-150269804060406~0522Mex., Cal., <34N279807240724~090234~39, -119~-117289811231123~0109Cal. <39N299812281228~021333~39, -120~-116309902220222~040820~38, 50~100319904020402~052024~34, -118~-108329904120412~052934~39, <-116339905050505~062127~33, -117~-113349905170517~0704Mex. <29N359906090609~072535~39, -120~-116369907260726~091036~42, 113~117379910281028~121430~33, -117~-115389912271227~0210Indian Ocean >20S392280228~041331~35, -116.5~-115407050705~0821Japan <34, <142.541103210321~0505Cal. >38N42108060806~102121~25, 68~7343108080808~100232~33.5, -117~-115.2449908250825~1003N Cal. >38,<-122。
Vision-Guided Robotics Visual Control
Vision-Guided Robotics Visual Control Vision-guided robotics visual control is a crucial aspect of modern robotics technology. It involves the use of visual information to guide the movement and actions of robots in various applications such as manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, and even in space exploration. This technology has the potential to revolutionize the way robots interact with their environment, enabling them to perform complex tasks with precision and efficiency. However, there are challenges and requirements that need to be addressed to ensure the successful implementation of vision-guided robotics visual control.One of the key requirements for vision-guided robotics visual control is the need for high-quality and reliable visual data. This data is essential for the robots to accurately perceive and understand their surroundings, enabling them to make informed decisions and take appropriate actions. To achieve this, advanced imaging technologies such as cameras, depth sensors, and lidar systems are used to capture detailed and accurate visual information. Additionally, the development of sophisticated algorithms and software is necessary to process and analyze this visual data in real-time, allowing the robots to respond quickly and effectively to changes in their environment.Another important requirement for vision-guided robotics visual control is the need for robust and adaptable control systems. These systems are responsible for translating the visual information into actionable commands for the robots, allowing them to move, manipulate objects, and interact with their environment. To achieve this, the control systems must be capable of handling complex and dynamic visual inputs, while also being flexible enough to accommodate changes in the environment or task requirements. This requires the integration of advanced control algorithms, sensor fusion techniques, and machine learning models to enable the robots to adapt and respond to a wide range of visual stimuli.In addition to technical requirements, there are also practical and ethical considerations that need to be addressed when implementing vision-guided robotics visual control. For example, ensuring the safety and reliability of vision-guided robotic systems is of utmost importance, especially in applications where they interact with humans oroperate in dynamic and unpredictable environments. This requires the development of robust safety protocols, fail-safe mechanisms, and ethical guidelines to minimize the risk of accidents or unintended consequences.Furthermore, the widespread adoption of vision-guided robotics visual control raises important societal and economic considerations. As this technology becomes more prevalent in various industries, there is a growing need to address the potential impact on the workforce, job displacement, and the ethical implications of relying on automated systems for critical tasks. It is essential to consider the broader implications of this technology and work towards solutions that ensure a fair and equitable transition to a future where vision-guided robotics visual control plays a significant role.In conclusion, vision-guided robotics visual control holds great promise for advancing the capabilities of robotic systems in a wide range of applications. However, realizing this potential requires addressing a multitude of technical, practical, ethical, and societal requirements. By focusing on the development of high-quality visual data, robust control systems, safety and ethical considerations, and broader societal implications, we can work towards the successful implementation of vision-guided robotics visual control, unlocking new possibilities for the future of robotics technology.。
2023名校版高考英语阅读理解精读附答案gh
2023名校版高考英语阅读理解精读附答案Austrian company Tec-Innovation recently unveiled smart shoes that use ultrasonic sensors (声波传感器) to help people suffering from blindness or vision impairment to detect obstacles up to four metres away.Known as InnoMake, the smart shoe aims to become an alternative to the decades-old walking stick that millions of people around the world depend on to get around as safely as possible. The currently available model relies on sensors to detect obstacles and warns the wearer via vibration and an audible alarm sounded on a Bluetooth-linked smart phone. That sounds impressive enough, but the company is already working on a much more advanced version that includes cameras and artificial intelligence to not only detect obstacles but also their nature.“Not only is the warning that I am facing an obstacle relevant, but also the information about what kind of obstacle I am facing. Because it makes a big difference whether it’s a wall, a car or a staircase,”Markus Raffer, one of the founders of Tec-Innovation,told TechXplore. “Ultrasonic sensors on the toe of the shoe detect obstacles up to four metres away. The wearer is then warned by vibration and/or audio signals. This works very well and is already a great help to me personally.”The current version of the InnoMake shoe is already available for purchase on the Tec-Innovation website, for 3,200 per pair. The advanced system is integrated in the front of the shoes, in a waterproof and dustproof case. It is powered by a heavy-duty battery that can last for up to one week, depending on use. The battery can be charged in just three hours, using a USB cable.The next step for Tec-Innovation is to use the data collected by its system to create a kind of street view navigation map for visually impaired people. “As it currently stands, only the wearer benefits in each case from the data the shoe collects as he or she walks. It would be much more sustainable if this data could also be made available to other people as a navigation aid,”computer scientist Friedrich Fraundorfer explained.12.What does the underlined word “unveiled”in paragraph 1 probably mean?A.Purchased.B.Launched.C.Evaluated.D.Promoted.13.What is required when a person uses InnoMake? A.An ultrasonic sensor.B.A walking stick.C.A smart phone.D.A new camera.14.What can we know about Markus Raffer? A.He himself is visually impaired.B.He is faced with a lot of obstacles.C.He is the founder of TechXplore.D.He has different opinions from others. 15.Where does the text probably appear?A.In a lab research.B.In a book review.C.In a health magazine.D.In a science website.12.B 13.C 14.A 15.DIn habitats across the planet, animals periodically drop everything to walk, fly or swim to a new place. Wildlife such as whales and geese learn migration paths by following their parents. Others, including small songbirds, gain the distance and direction of their migration within their genetic code. And some animals use a combination of genetics and culture to guide their migration.Another group of migrators does not quite fit either model, and researchers have only recently started to figure out how they find their way. Take the Cory’s shearwater, an oceangoing sea bird that migrates over the Atlantic every year. The young do not migrate with their parents, so culture cannot explain their journeys. And the exact paths vary wildly from individual to individual, making genetics equally unlikely.Cory’s shearwaters are long-lived, rarely producing young successfully before age nine. This leaves an opening for learning and practice to develop their migration patterns. Researchers call this the “exploration-refinement”, and until now it has been hypothetical (假设的) because of difficulties in tracking migratory animals’movements.But a team of researchers has done that by attaching small geolocators to more than 150 of the birds aged four to nine. They found that younger birds traveled longer distances, for longer periods, and had more diverse paths than older birds. “We finally have evidence of the ‘exploration-refinement’for migratory birds,”says Letizia Campioni, who led the study. Younger Cory’s shearwaters are able to fly just as fast as the adults—but they do not, suggesting that the young do more exploring, which gradually fades as they mature and settle into a preferred course.Although it may seem less efficient than other strategies, “exploration refinement could be beneficial to birds and other organisms in a rapidly changing world due to unpredictable man-made changes,”says Barbara Frei. “It might be safer to repeat a behavior that was recently successful than to rely onpatterns that were perfected long ago but might no longer be safe.”32. What is the first paragraph mainly about? .A. It describes animals’habitats.B. It talks about migration models.C. It compares different species.D. It introduces a tracking technology.33. What does the underlined word “this”in paragraph 3 refer to?A. The opening for learning and practice.B. The unique living habit of Cory’s shearwaters.C. The way Cory’s shearwaters form their migration patterns.D. The process scientists track Cory’s shearwaters’movements.34. What does Letizia’s study find about the younger Cory’s shearwaters?A. They travel as much as adult birds.B. They move in a predictable manner.C. They lower the speed for exploration.D. They look for a course with their parents.35. What can we conclude from the last paragraph?A. Man-made changes make migration easier.B. Animals make a safer journey via a fixed track.C. Course exploration contributes to birds’adaptability.D. A combination of strategies assures migration success. 32-35BCCC。
宇宙探测机器人作文400字
宇宙探测机器人作文400字English Response:Exploring the Cosmos: The Marvel of Robotic Space Exploration.Ever since I was a child, the idea of space exploration has captivated my imagination. The notion of sendingrobotic emissaries into the vast unknown, probing distant planets and celestial bodies, fills me with a sense of wonder and excitement. Let me take you on a journey into the realm of robotic space exploration.One of the most iconic robotic explorers is NASA's Curiosity rover. This intrepid robot was launched in 2011 and landed on Mars in August 2012. Its mission? To explore the Martian surface, analyze rocks and soil, and search for signs of past microbial life. Curiosity's findings have reshaped our understanding of the Red Planet, revealing ancient lake beds and organic molecules that hint at thepossibility of life.Another standout example is the Voyager spacecraft, which have ventured beyond our solar system into interstellar space. Launched in the late 1970s, Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 have provided humanity with invaluable insights into the outer planets and continue to transmit data back to Earth, even after more than four decades in space. These resilient probes carry a golden record containing sounds and images from Earth, serving as a time capsule of human civilization for any extraterrestrial beings that may encounter them in the distant future.Robotic space exploration isn't just about satisfying our curiosity; it also holds immense practical value. Satellites orbiting Earth monitor weather patterns, track environmental changes, and enable global communication networks. Space telescopes like the Hubble Space Telescope have revolutionized our understanding of the cosmos, unveiling distant galaxies, nebulae, and exoplanets.Moreover, robotic missions pave the way for futurehuman exploration of space. Probes like the Mars rovers scout potential landing sites, test technologies, and gather essential data about the Martian environment, laying the groundwork for crewed missions to the Red Planet and beyond. By sending robots ahead of us, we can mitigaterisks and ensure the safety and success of human explorers.In conclusion, robotic space exploration is a testament to humanity's insatiable curiosity and spirit of discovery. These intrepid machines venture where humans cannot yet go, expanding our horizons and deepening our understanding of the cosmos. As we continue to push the boundaries of exploration, we will undoubtedly uncover new wonders and unlock the mysteries of the universe.中文回答:探索宇宙,机器人探测的奇迹。
有关航天技术新成就的英语作文
有关航天技术新成就的英语作文Advancements in Space Exploration: A Quantum Leap into the Unknown.Humankind's unyielding fascination with the cosmos has fueled an unwavering pursuit of space exploration. Inrecent years, a surge of groundbreaking achievements has propelled our understanding and capabilities in this unfathomable realm. From pioneering spacecraft venturinginto uncharted territories to groundbreaking scientific discoveries, the field of astronautics is undergoing a transformative revolution.Unveiling the Secrets of the Solar System.The advent of advanced satellite technology has revolutionized our perception of our celestial neighborhood. Missions such as the Juno probe's exploration of Jupiter's tumultuous atmosphere and the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft's rendezvous with the asteroid Bennu have provided invaluableinsights into the composition and history of our cosmic surroundings. By mapping the surface of Mars, rovers like Curiosity and Perseverance have unearthed evidence of ancient water systems, hinting at the potential for past life on the Red Planet.Venturing Beyond Our Planetary Confines.Humanity's ambition has extended beyond the confines of our solar system. The Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 spacecraft, launched in 1977, have embarked on an epic interstellar journey, becoming the first human-made objects to venture into the interstellar medium. Their ongoing transmissions, spanning decades, have provided unprecedented data on the outer reaches of our cosmic existence.Pioneering Space Habitats.The prospect of long-term human presence in space has spurred innovation in space habitat design. The International Space Station (ISS), a collaborative effort of multiple nations, has served as a living laboratory forastronauts for over two decades, demonstrating the feasibility of sustained human habitation in low Earth orbit. Private companies, such as SpaceX and Blue Origin, are vying to establish commercial space stations, laying the groundwork for future interplanetary exploration.Advancing Space Propulsion.The development of advanced propulsion systems is crucial for future deep space missions. ion propulsion, which harnesses electrical energy to create thrust, has been successfully employed by spacecraft like Dawn, enabling extended missions to dwarf planets like Ceres and Vesta. Nuclear-powered propulsion systems promise even greater efficiency and speed, opening up the possibility of rapid transit to Mars and other distant destinations.Exploring the Unknown with Rovers and Landers.Rovers and landers have become indispensable tools for exploring the surfaces of other planets. The Mars rovers, including Curiosity and Perseverance, have providedinvaluable geological data, revealing evidence of ancient water, the potential for past life, and the presence of organic molecules. The ExoMars Rosalind Franklin rover, scheduled for launch in 2023, will probe the Martian subsurface, searching for signs of past or present life.The Promise of Space Tourism.The allure of space travel has captured the imagination of the public, leading to the emergence of space tourism. Companies like Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin offer suborbital flights, giving individuals a taste of weightlessness and the awe-inspiring experience of viewing Earth from above. In the future, space hotels and extended space missions could become a reality, opening up space exploration to a wider audience.The Importance of International Cooperation.Advancements in space exploration often require the collaboration of multiple nations and organizations. The ISS is a testament to the power of internationalcooperation, fostering scientific innovation and fostering a sense of global unity. Partnerships between space agencies and private companies are also becoming increasingly common, pooling resources and expertise for ambitious space missions.The Future of Space Exploration.The future of space exploration holds infinite possibilities. The establishment of permanent human settlements on Mars is a long-term goal, requiring significant technological advancements and international cooperation. The exploration of other planets, moons, and asteroids will continue to expand our scientific knowledge and challenge our understanding of the universe. And as space technology continues to evolve, the potential for groundbreaking discoveries and the advancement of human knowledge remain boundless.Conclusion.The era of space exploration is undergoing a period ofunprecedented transformation. Technological breakthroughs, scientific discoveries, and international collaborations are propelling us toward a future where the cosmos is no longer an unreachable void but a vast frontier to be explored and understood. As we venture into the unknown,let us not forget the indomitable spirit of curiosity that has always fueled our celestial aspirations. The boundless expanse of space holds the key to our future, and it is our destiny to unravel its mysteries.。
预测航天技术的未来英语作文
预测航天技术的未来英语作文英文回答:The future of space technology is bright with potential, driven by the relentless pursuit of human curiosity, technological advancements, and the desire to explore the unknown. Here are some key predictions for the future of space technology:1. Reusable rockets: The development of reusable rockets, such as SpaceX's Falcon 9, will significantly reduce the cost of space missions. This will make space travel more accessible, enabling more frequent and diverse space exploration endeavors.2. Space tourism: As space travel becomes more affordable, space tourism is expected to become a reality, offering individuals the opportunity to experience the wonders of space firsthand and contribute to space research.3. Moon and Mars exploration: The Moon and Mars will continue to be major destinations for space exploration. Missions to these celestial bodies will seek to establish human presence, conduct scientific research, and pave the way for future deep space exploration.4. Asteroid mining: The exploitation of asteroids for their valuable resources, such as water, rare earth elements, and precious metals, will become increasingly feasible. Asteroid mining could provide new opportunities for economic growth and scientific advancements.5. Artificial intelligence (AI): AI will play a transformative role in space technology, enhancing data analysis, spacecraft navigation, and decision-making processes. AI-powered systems will increase mission efficiency, reduce costs, and enable more autonomous space exploration.6. Space-based solar power: The development of space-based solar power systems will provide a clean and reliable energy source for Earth and space missions. Satellitesequipped with solar panels will beam energy back to Earth, reducing our dependence on fossil fuels and enabling sustainable space exploration.7. Quantum communication: Quantum communication technology will revolutionize space communications, enabling secure and high-speed data transmission between Earth and spacecraft. Quantum communication will facilitate real-time data sharing, improve mission control, and enhance space exploration capabilities.8. Biosphere-controlled habitats: The development of biosphere-controlled habitats, such as the planned Mars One project, will pave the way for human settlements on other planets. These artificial environments will provide life support systems, such as oxygen, water, and food, enabling long-term human presence in space.9. Space debris management: As space exploration intensifies, addressing the issue of space debris becomes crucial. Technologies for monitoring, tracking, and removing debris from orbit will be developed to mitigatepotential hazards and ensure the safety of space activities.10. International cooperation: Space exploration will increasingly require international collaboration, fostering partnerships between nations and pooling resources for ambitious space missions. Cooperative endeavors will enhance the efficiency and scope of space exploration, leading to groundbreaking scientific discoveries and technological advancements.In conclusion, the future of space technology is filled with exciting possibilities and transformative potential.As we push the boundaries of human ingenuity and technological innovation, we can anticipate a future where space exploration becomes more accessible, sustainable, and impactful, unlocking the secrets of the cosmos and shaping the destiny of humankind beyond our planet.中文回答:航天技术未来预测。
关于航天发明的作文英语
关于航天发明的作文英语Title: The Impact of Space Exploration on Inventions。
Space exploration has long captured the imagination of humanity, pushing the boundaries of what we know and what we can achieve. Beyond the exploration itself, the innovations spurred by the quest for space have had profound effects on our daily lives. In this essay, we will delve into the myriad inventions that have been born from the pursuit of space exploration and examine their impact on society.One of the most notable inventions resulting from space exploration is undoubtedly the Global Positioning System (GPS). Originally developed by the United States Department of Defense to aid in military navigation, GPS has since become an indispensable tool in civilian life. From guiding drivers to their destinations to enabling precise location tracking on smartphones, GPS has revolutionized how we navigate the world.Furthermore, advancements in materials science spurred by the need for lightweight yet durable spacecraft have led to the development of numerous everyday products. For instance, the lightweight materials used in space suitshave found applications in athletic apparel, making sports equipment more comfortable and performance-enhancing. Similarly, the insulation materials designed to protect spacecraft from extreme temperatures have been adapted for use in homes, improving energy efficiency and reducing heating and cooling costs.Space exploration has also driven innovation in healthcare technology. The rigorous demands of space travel necessitate compact and reliable medical equipment, leading to the development of portable diagnostic devices and telemedicine technologies. These innovations not onlybenefit astronauts in space but also improve healthcare access and delivery in remote or underserved areas on Earth.Moreover, space exploration has catalyzed advancementsin telecommunications technology. Satellites launched intoorbit for communication purposes have enabled global connectivity, facilitating instant communication and information exchange across the globe. From satellite television to high-speed internet, these technologies have transformed how we communicate, learn, and conduct business.Another area profoundly impacted by space explorationis environmental monitoring and disaster management. Satellites equipped with remote sensing instruments can monitor changes in Earth's climate, track deforestation,and detect natural disasters such as hurricanes andwildfires from space. This data is invaluable for disaster preparedness and response efforts, helping to mitigate the impact of natural disasters and protect vulnerable communities.In addition to tangible inventions, space exploration has also spurred advancements in computer technology and artificial intelligence. The computational challenges of space missions have driven the development of faster processors, more efficient algorithms, and intelligent software systems. These technologies have applications farbeyond space exploration, powering everything from smartphones to autonomous vehicles.Furthermore, the quest for space has inspired countless individuals to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. This influx of talent has led to a virtuous cycle of innovation, with bright minds collaborating to solve complex problems and push the boundaries of human knowledge and capability.In conclusion, the inventions born from space exploration have had a profound and far-reaching impact on society, touching virtually every aspect of our lives. From GPS and lightweight materials to healthcare technology and telecommunications, the benefits of space exploration extend far beyond the confines of our planet. As we continue to explore the cosmos, we can expect even more groundbreaking innovations that will shape the future of humanity for generations to come.。
Advanced Robotics
Advanced RoboticsAdvanced robotics has become an increasingly prevalent and influential fieldin today's world. With the rapid advancement of technology, robots are no longer limited to simple repetitive tasks, but are now capable of complex problem-solving and decision-making. This has led to a wide range of applications in various industries, from manufacturing and healthcare to entertainment and space exploration. However, along with the many benefits that advanced robotics brings, there are also significant challenges and ethical considerations that need to be addressed. One of the most pressing issues in advanced robotics is the potential impact on the workforce. As robots become more sophisticated and capable, there is a growing concern that they will replace human workers, leading to widespread unemployment and economic instability. This has led to heated debates about the ethical implications of using robots to perform tasks that were previously done by humans. While some argue that robots can take on dangerous or monotonous jobs, allowing humans to focus on more creative and fulfilling work, others worry about the social and economic consequences of widespread job displacement. In addition to the impact on the workforce, advanced robotics also raises ethical questions about the use of autonomous robots in military and law enforcement. The development of autonomous weapons systems, such as drones and unmanned ground vehicles, has sparked intense debate about the morality of delegating lethal force to machines. There are concerns about the potential for these systems to makelife-and-death decisions without human intervention, as well as the risk of unintended consequences and civilian casualties. These ethical concerns have led to calls for international regulations to govern the use of autonomous weapons and ensure that human oversight is maintained. Another significant challenge in advanced robotics is ensuring the safety and reliability of robotic systems. As robots become more autonomous and interact with humans in increasingly complex ways, there is a need to develop robust safety standards and protocols to prevent accidents and malfunctions. This is particularly important in fields such as healthcare, where robots are being used to assist in surgery and patient care. Ensuring the safety and well-being of both patients and healthcare providers is paramount, and requires careful consideration of the potential risks andvulnerabilities of advanced robotic systems. Furthermore, the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) in robotics raises concerns about the ethical implications of creating machines with human-like cognitive abilities. As robots become more intelligent and capable of learning from their experiences, there is a risk that they could develop their own agendas and values that may not align with human interests. This has led to discussions about the need for ethical guidelines and regulations to ensure that AI systems are designed and used in ways that are consistent with human values and priorities. In conclusion, the rise of advanced robotics presents a range of complex challenges and ethical considerations that need to be carefully addressed. From the impact on the workforce to the use of autonomous robots in military and law enforcement, as well as the safety and reliability of robotic systems and the ethical implications of AI, there are many important issues that require thoughtful and informed discussion. By considering multiple perspectives and engaging in open dialogue, we can work towards developing responsible and ethical practices in the field of advanced robotics, ensuring that the benefits of this technology are realized while minimizing potential risks and drawbacks.。
太空机器人的妙用英语作文
太空机器人的妙用英语作文Celestial Craftsmen: Unveiling the Multifaceted Applications of Space Robots.As humanity ventures further into the cosmic expanse, the role of space robots has become increasingly pivotal. These autonomous machines, equipped with advanced capabilities, are revolutionizing our understanding of the universe and unlocking unprecedented possibilities in various scientific and practical domains.1. Extraterrestrial Exploration and Science:Space robots serve as invaluable assistants in the exploration of remote celestial bodies, providing scientists with data that would otherwise be unattainable. Rovers, such as NASA's Mars rovers (Curiosity, Perseverance), have traversed the Martian landscape, collecting geological samples, analyzing soil composition, and searching for signs of past life. They have played acrucial role in advancing our knowledge of the Red Planet's history, climate, and habitability potential.Similarly, probes like the Voyager spacecraft and the Hubble Space Telescope have traveled far beyond Earth's atmosphere, studying distant planets, stars, and galaxies. They have provided stunning images and invaluable data that have expanded our comprehension of the cosmos and challenged long-held theories.2. Spacecraft Maintenance and Repair:In the unforgiving environment of space, satellites and spacecraft can encounter various malfunctions or require maintenance. Space robots, equipped with dexterity and precision, can perform intricate repairs or replacements on these critical assets, extending their lifespan and ensuring their continued operation.For instance, robotic arms mounted on the International Space Station (ISS) have been used to capture and repair satellites, replace faulty components, and even removedebris from the station's vicinity. These capabilities enhance mission safety and reduce the need for costly and risky astronaut interventions.3. In-Orbit Assembly and Construction:Space robots are also transforming the way we assemble and construct structures in orbit. Large-scale space projects, such as solar arrays or space stations, require precision and efficiency that humans alone cannot provide.Robotic systems have demonstrated the ability to autonomously assemble complex structures, such as the "Robotic External Assembly Module" (REAM) aboard the ISS. These systems use advanced algorithms and computer vision to precisely align and connect components, enabling the construction of large-scale orbital infrastructure without the need for human intervention.4. Orbital Debris Mitigation:One of the pressing challenges in space exploration isthe accumulation of orbital debris, which poses a significant hazard to satellites and spacecraft. Space robots can play a vital role in mitigating this threat by autonomously capturing and removing debris from orbit.Robotic systems, equipped with advanced sensors and maneuvering capabilities, can identify and approach pieces of debris, then use grappling arms or other mechanisms to capture and de-orbit them. This helps to reduce the risk of collisions and ensures the safety of spacecraft in Earth's orbit and beyond.5. Lunar and Martian Outposts:As humanity prepares for long-term missions to the Moon and Mars, space robots will be essential for establishing sustainable outposts. These machines can perform a wide range of tasks, from constructing habitats and processing resources to conducting scientific experiments and maintaining life support systems.For example, NASA's "Resource Prospector" rover isdesigned to explore the lunar surface for criticalresources such as water and oxygen. By autonomously collecting samples and analyzing data, these robots canhelp identify the best locations for future human missions and support long-term habitation on the Moon or Mars.6. Technology Development and Innovation:The development and deployment of space robots drive innovation in various technological fields. The challengesof operating in space, with extreme temperatures, radiation, and zero gravity, have spurred advancements in robotics, artificial intelligence, and computer science.The autonomous systems used in space robots have applications in fields such as autonomous vehicles,disaster response, and search and rescue operations. The technologies developed for space robotics are ultimately enriching our lives on Earth, enhancing safety, efficiency, and our understanding of our place in the universe.Conclusion:Space robots are transforming the realm of space exploration and unlocking unprecedented possibilities in scientific research, spacecraft maintenance, and orbital construction. Their capabilities extend far beyond replacing human astronauts, as they offer precision, endurance, and autonomy that humans cannot match.As we continue to push the boundaries of human knowledge and venture further into the cosmos, space robots will play an increasingly indispensable role. Their celestial craftsmanship will drive innovation, accelerate scientific discovery, and pave the way for future human missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.。
宇宙探测机器人作文400字
宇宙探测机器人作文400字English Response:Exploring the Universe with Robotic Probes.Throughout history, mankind has been fascinated by the mysteries of the cosmos. From ancient civilizations gazing at the stars to the modern era of space exploration, our curiosity about the universe knows no bounds. Robotic probes have become invaluable tools in our quest to understand the cosmos.One of the most remarkable aspects of robotic probes is their ability to venture where humans cannot. These machines can withstand the harsh conditions of space, enduring extreme temperatures, radiation, and vacuum. Take, for example, the Voyager spacecraft, which has journeyed beyond our solar system, sending back invaluable data about the outer reaches of the galaxy.Robotic probes also enable us to study celestial bodies up close. For instance, the Mars rovers, such as Curiosity and Perseverance, have provided us with detailed insights into the Martian surface. These robots have explored rugged terrain, analyzed soil samples, and even searched for signs of past life. Their discoveries pave the way for future human missions to the Red Planet.Furthermore, robotic probes allow us to conduct experiments and observations without risking human lives. Satellites like the Hubble Space Telescope orbit high above Earth, capturing breathtaking images of distant galaxiesand phenomena. These unmanned observatories expand our understanding of the cosmos while keeping astronauts safeon our home planet.In addition to scientific exploration, robotic probes have practical applications. They assist in navigation, communication, and weather forecasting, benefiting society as a whole. For example, the Global Positioning System (GPS) relies on satellites to provide accurate location data for countless devices worldwide.In conclusion, robotic probes play a crucial role in our exploration of the universe. They venture into the unknown, gather valuable data, and expand our understanding of the cosmos. Whether roaming the surface of Mars or peering into distant galaxies, these machines are pioneers of discovery, pushing the boundaries of human knowledge.中文回答:用机器人探测器探索宇宙。
宇宙探测机器人作文400字
宇宙探测机器人作文400字英文回答:As a space exploration enthusiast, I have always been fascinated by the incredible machines that humans have sent out into the vastness of space. One of the most impressive types of these machines is the space probe or robot. These robots are designed to travel through space, gathering data and conducting experiments in places where humans cannot go.One of the most famous space probes is the Voyager 1, which was launched by NASA in 1977. This probe has traveled farther from Earth than any other man-made object, and itis still sending back valuable information about the outer reaches of our solar system. The Voyager 1 has taught us so much about the planets and moons in our solar system, andit has even helped us discover new ones.Another amazing space robot is the Mars Rover, whichhas been exploring the surface of Mars since 2004. Theserovers are equipped with cameras, sensors, and instruments that allow them to study the geology and climate of the Red Planet. The Mars Rovers have made some incredible discoveries, such as evidence of past water on Mars and the potential for life on the planet.These space robots are truly remarkable feats of engineering and technology. They are able to withstand the harsh conditions of space, including extreme temperatures, radiation, and lack of atmosphere. They are also programmed to make decisions on their own, using artificial intelligence to navigate and conduct experiments.I believe that space robots play a crucial role in our exploration of the universe. They allow us to gather information and conduct experiments in places that would be too dangerous or difficult for humans to reach. They are our eyes and ears in the vast expanse of space, helping us to unlock the mysteries of the cosmos.中文回答:作为一个对太空探索着迷的人,我一直被人类送出到宇宙深处的令人难以置信的机器所吸引。
关于太空机械臂英语作文
关于太空机械臂英语作文英文回答:The robotic arm, also known as the mechanical arm, is an essential tool in the field of space exploration. It is a versatile and dexterous device that allows astronauts and scientists to perform a wide range of tasks in space, from assembling and repairing satellites to conductingscientific experiments and capturing images of distant planets.One of the most significant advantages of robotic arms is their ability to operate in harsh and hazardous environments, such as the vacuum of space or the extreme temperatures of other planets. This makes them ideal for missions where human presence is not feasible or practical. Moreover, robotic arms can be equipped with a variety of tools and sensors, allowing them to perform a wide range of tasks with precision and efficiency.Robotic arms have played a crucial role in many notable space missions. For instance, the Canadarm, developed bythe Canadian Space Agency, was used on the Space Shuttle to deploy and retrieve satellites, conduct repairs, andtransfer crew members between the shuttle and the International Space Station (ISS). Similarly, the European Robotic Arm (ERA), built by the European Space Agency, has been used on the ISS to perform a variety of tasks,including assembly, maintenance, and scientific experiments.Robotic arms are also vital for future spaceexploration missions. As we venture farther into space, the challenges of human travel and exploration become increasingly complex. Robotic arms will be essential for tasks such as constructing and repairing space stations, assembling and deploying space telescopes, and collecting samples from distant planets.In addition to their practical applications, robotic arms also have symbolic significance. They represent the ingenuity and technological prowess of humanity, and they inspire us to push the boundaries of space exploration. Asrobotic arms continue to evolve and become more sophisticated, they will undoubtedly play an even more critical role in shaping our understanding of the universe.中文回答:太空机械臂也称为机械臂,是太空探索领域不可或缺的工具。
北斗一号英语介绍
北斗一号英语介绍**The Beidou-1: China's Global Vision in Satellite Navigation System**In the realm of satellite navigation, the Beidou-1, China's first-generation satellite navigation system, has marked a significant milestone in the country's space exploration journey. Since its inception in the late 1990s, the Beidou-1 has not only served as a critical component of China's national security but also played a pivotal role in推进中国's economic and technological growth. This article aims to delve into the English introduction of the Beidou-1, exploring its technological advancements, applications, and the broader implications it holds for China and the global community.Technologically speaking, the Beidou-1 represents a remarkable feat in China's space technology. Comprisingthree geostationary orbit satellites and one inclined geosynchronous orbit satellite, the system providescoverage over China and周边地区, enabling users to determine their positions, velocities, and timing with precision. This precision is crucial in variousapplications, ranging from military operations to civilian uses such as transportation, meteorology, and agriculture. One of the key applications of the Beidou-1 is in the field of transportation. With the increasing demand for efficient and reliable navigation systems, the Beidou-1 has been integrated into various transportation modes,including aircraft, ships, and road vehicles. The system's ability to provide accurate positioning and timing information has significantly enhanced the safety and efficiency of transportation systems, thus contributing to China's transportation modernization efforts.Moreover, the Beidou-1 has also found widespread use in meteorology. By providing precise positioning data, the system helps meteorologists to monitor and predict weather patterns, thereby enhancing the country's weather forecasting capabilities. This, in turn, supports various sectors such as agriculture, aviation, and tourism, enabling them to plan their activities based on accurate weather information.Beyond its domestic applications, the Beidou-1 also holds significant implications for the global community. AsChina's space program continues to expand, the Beidou-1 serves as a testament to the country's increasing technological prowess and spacefaring capabilities. Its integration into global navigation satellite systems such as GPS and GLONASS not only enhances the reliability and accuracy of these systems but also demonstrates China's commitment to promoting international cooperation in space exploration.In conclusion, the Beidou-1 satellite navigation system represents a pivotal milestone in China's space exploration journey. Its technological advancements, widespread applications, and global implications highlight thecountry's growing prowess in the field of satellite navigation. As China continues to invest in its space program, the Beidou-1 remains a critical component in推进中国's ambitions in space exploration and beyond.**北斗一号:中国卫星导航系统的全球视野**北斗一号,作为中国第一代卫星导航系统,在卫星导航领域标志着中国空间探索历程的重要里程碑。
介绍北斗卫星导航系统的研发应用英语作文
介绍北斗卫星导航系统的研发应用英语作文全文共3篇示例,供读者参考篇1Introduction to Beidou Satellite Navigation SystemThe Beidou Satellite Navigation System, also known as the BeiDou-3 system, is a global navigation satellite system developed by China. It consists of a network of satellites that provide positioning, navigation, and timing services to users worldwide. The system is designed to provide accurate, reliable, and continuous navigation services to users in various fields, including aviation, maritime, agriculture, transportation, and disaster relief.The Beidou Satellite Navigation System is a significant achievement in China's space technology and has been in development for more than two decades. The system aims to reduce the country's dependence on foreign satellite navigation systems, such as GPS, and to establish China as a major player in the global satellite navigation market.The Beidou Satellite Navigation System is based on a constellation of satellites in medium Earth orbit (MEO) andgeostationary orbit (GEO). The system currently consists of 35 operational satellites, with plans to expand to 35 satellites by 2020. The satellites are equipped with advanced navigation and positioning technology, including atomic clocks, onboard processors, and communication systems.The Beidou Satellite Navigation System offers a range of services, including precise positioning, navigation, and timing services. The system provides positioning accuracy of less than 10 meters, navigation accuracy of less than 0.2 meters per second, and timing accuracy of less than 50 nanoseconds. These services are crucial for various applications, including vehicle navigation, transportation logistics, precision agriculture, and disaster response.One of the key advantages of the Beidou Satellite Navigation System is its compatibility with other global navigation satellite systems, such as GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo. This interoperability allows users to receive signals from multiple satellite systems simultaneously, enhancing the accuracy and reliability of positioning and navigation services. The system also supports dual-frequency signals, which further improve accuracy in challenging environments, such as urban canyons and forested areas.The Beidou Satellite Navigation System is being widely used in China and is gradually expanding its services to countries along the Belt and Road Initiative. The system has been adopted in various sectors, including transportation, agriculture, surveying, mapping, disaster relief, and scientific research. The system has also been integrated into smartphones, tablets, and other consumer devices, making satellite navigation services more accessible to the general public.In conclusion, the Beidou Satellite Navigation System is a significant technological achievement that demonstrates China's capabilities in space technology. The system offers accurate, reliable, and continuous navigation services to users worldwide, supporting a wide range of applications in various sectors. With its expanding constellation of satellites and advanced technology, the Beidou Satellite Navigation System is poised to become a key player in the global satellite navigation market.篇2IntroductionThe Beidou Satellite Navigation System, also known as Compass Navigation System, is a Chinese satellite navigation system that provides accurate positioning, navigation, andtiming services to users worldwide. It was developed by China Satellite Navigation Office and is named after the Chinese term for the Big Dipper constellation.History of Beidou Satellite Navigation SystemThe development of the Beidou Satellite Navigation System began in the 1990s as China's answer to the US GPS system. The first experimental Beidou satellite was launched in 2000, and the system gradually became fully operational with the launch of additional satellites over the years. By 2020, China has deployed a constellation of 35 Beidou satellites in orbit, providing global coverage for its users.Features of Beidou Satellite Navigation SystemThe Beidou Satellite Navigation System offers several key features that make it a valuable asset for various applications. These features include:- High accuracy: The Beidou system provides positioning accuracy of up to 10 meters, making it suitable for a wide range of applications that require precise location information.- Global coverage: With its constellation of satellites, the Beidou system offers global coverage, ensuring that users can access its services anywhere in the world.- Multiple services: In addition to providing positioning and navigation services, the Beidou system also offers timing synchronization services that are crucial for a wide range of industries.- Dual-frequency signals: The Beidou system utilizesdual-frequency signals, which can improve accuracy and reliability, especially in challenging environments such as urban canyons or dense forests.Applications of Beidou Satellite Navigation SystemThe Beidou Satellite Navigation System has a wide range of applications across various industries, including:- Transportation: The Beidou system is widely used in the transportation sector for vehicle tracking, route planning, and navigation. It helps improve the efficiency of logistics operations and enhances the safety of vehicles on the road.- Precision agriculture: By using the Beidou system, farmers can accurately monitor their crops, optimize irrigation and fertilizer application, and improve overall crop yield.- Disaster management: The Beidou system plays a crucial role in disaster management by providing accurate positioninginformation that helps rescue teams locate and assist people in distress during emergencies.- Maritime navigation: The Beidou system is essential for maritime navigation, providing ships with accurate positioning information to ensure safe and efficient navigation on the seas.Future DevelopmentsChina is continuously investing in the development of the Beidou Satellite Navigation System to enhance its capabilities and expand its applications. Future developments of the system may include:- Enhanced positioning accuracy: China aims to improve the positioning accuracy of the Beidou system to meet the growing demands of various industries that require high-precision location information.- Integration with other systems: China is exploring opportunities to integrate the Beidou system with other satellite navigation systems, such as GPS and Galileo, to enhance interoperability and provide users with more reliable and robust positioning services.- Expansion of services: China plans to expand the services offered by the Beidou system to meet the diverse needs of users,including the development of new applications and services in areas such as smart cities, autonomous vehicles, and Internet of Things (IoT) devices.ConclusionThe Beidou Satellite Navigation System is a valuable asset for China and the global community, providing accurate positioning, navigation, and timing services that support a wide range of applications across various industries. With its high accuracy, global coverage, and multiple services, the Beidou system has become an essential tool for improving efficiency, safety, and productivity in different sectors. As China continues to invest in the development of the Beidou system, we can expect to see even more advancements and innovations that will further enhance its capabilities and benefits for users worldwide.篇3Development and Application of the Beidou Satellite Navigation SystemIntroductionThe Beidou Satellite Navigation System, also known as the BeiDou-3 system, is a Chinese satellite navigation system that aims to provide global coverage by 2020. It is a significantmilestone in China's space technology development and has a wide range of applications in various sectors such as transportation, agriculture, telecommunications, and disaster management.Development of the Beidou SystemThe development of the Beidou Satellite Navigation System began in the early 1990s with the launch of the first generation of Beidou satellites. Over the years, China has made significant advancements in the system's technology and infrastructure to improve its accuracy, reliability, and coverage.The Beidou system consists of three major components: the space segment, the ground segment, and the user equipment. The space segment includes a constellation of satellites in geostationary orbit, medium Earth orbit, and inclined geosynchronous orbit to provide global coverage. The ground segment consists of monitoring stations, control centers, and data processing facilities to track and manage the satellites. The user equipment, such as smartphones, car navigation systems, and handheld devices, receives signals from the satellites to determine the user's location accurately.Applications of the Beidou SystemThe Beidou Satellite Navigation System has a wide range of applications across various industries:1. Transportation: The Beidou system is widely used in the transportation sector for vehicle tracking, route planning, and traffic management. It helps improve the accuracy and efficiency of logistics operations, reduces travel time, and enhances overall safety on roads, railways, and waterways.2. Agriculture: The Beidou system plays a crucial role in precision agriculture by providing farmers with accurate location data for crop monitoring, irrigation, and fertilization. It improves crop yields, reduces resource wastage, and supports sustainable farming practices.3. Telecommunications: The Beidou system enables precise timing and synchronization for telecommunications networks, mobile communication systems, and internet services. It enhances network performance, reduces interference, and ensures seamless connectivity for users.4. Disaster Management: The Beidou system is utilized for disaster monitoring, early warning, and emergency response during natural disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis, and floods. It helps coordinate rescue efforts, locate survivors, and deliver aid to affected areas promptly.5. Surveying and Mapping: The Beidou system provides high-accuracy positioning, navigation, and mapping services for surveying, mapping, and geospatial applications. It supports land surveying, urban planning, infrastructure development, and environmental conservation initiatives.ConclusionThe Beidou Satellite Navigation System has emerged as a competitive player in the global satellite navigation market, offering advanced technology, extensive coverage, and diverse applications. Its development and application in various sectors demonstrate China's commitment to innovation, technological advancement, and international cooperation in space exploration. As the Beidou system continues to evolve and expand, it will undoubtedly contribute to the advancement of society, economy, and sustainable development on a global scale.。
在航天领域的英语作文
在航天领域的英语作文Exploring the Vast Frontier: The Significance of Space Exploration。
Space exploration stands as humanity's greatest endeavor, unlocking the mysteries of the cosmos and pushing the boundaries of our understanding. From the first steps on the Moon to the robotic explorers roaming Mars, each mission expands our knowledge and opens new avenues for exploration. In this essay, we delve into the significance of space exploration, examining its scientific, technological, and societal impacts.Scientifically, space exploration allows us to unravel the mysteries of the universe. Through telescopes like the Hubble Space Telescope, we peer into the depths of space, witnessing the birth of stars, the collisions of galaxies, and the remnants of ancient supernovae. Space probes and rovers extend our reach, exploring distant planets and moons, such as Jupiter's moon Europa, where liquid watermight harbor extraterrestrial life. Every mission adds to our understanding of the cosmos, answering age-oldquestions and posing new ones for future generations to tackle.Moreover, space exploration drives technological innovation. The challenges of space travel demand creative solutions, leading to the development of cutting-edge technologies with applications on Earth. For instance, advances in materials science, such as lightweight composites and heat-resistant ceramics, find use in industries ranging from aviation to healthcare. Furthermore, space missions spur advancements in robotics, artificial intelligence, and autonomous systems, revolutionizingfields like manufacturing and transportation. The pursuitof space exploration catalyzes progress, driving society forward through scientific and technological breakthroughs.Beyond its scientific and technological impacts, space exploration inspires humanity and fosters international cooperation. The iconic images of astronauts floating weightlessly above the Earth remind us of our commonhumanity and the fragility of our home planet. Space missions unite nations in a shared endeavor, transcending geopolitical boundaries and fostering collaboration in pursuit of common goals. The International Space Station, a symbol of international cooperation, serves as a laboratory for scientific research and a platform for diplomatic engagement, bringing together astronauts from around the world in the spirit of exploration and discovery.Furthermore, space exploration sparks the imagination of future generations, igniting passion for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. Children inspired by the exploits of astronauts and the marvels of the cosmos dream of one day exploring space themselves. Educational programs and outreach initiatives engage young minds, encouraging them to pursue careers in STEM and become the scientists, engineers, and explorers of tomorrow. The legacy of space exploration extends far beyond the confines of our solar system, shaping the aspirations of generations yet to come.In conclusion, space exploration is a testament tohumanity's curiosity, ingenuity, and ambition. Through scientific discovery, technological innovation, and international cooperation, we venture into the unknown, seeking answers to age-old questions and charting a course for the future. Space exploration inspires us to dream big, to reach for the stars, and to imagine a world where the boundaries of space are no longer limits, but new horizons to explore. As we continue our journey into the cosmos, let us remember the words of Carl Sagan: "The cosmos is within us. We are made of star-stuff. We are a way for the universe to know itself."。
航天类的科技英文作文
航天类的科技英文作文"英文,"Space technology has always fascinated me since I was a child. The sheer vastness of the cosmos and the mysteriesit holds have driven humanity to explore beyond theconfines of our planet. In this essay, I will delve intothe advancements in space technology and its impact on our lives.One of the most significant developments in space technology is the utilization of reusable rockets. Companies like SpaceX have revolutionized space travel by successfully landing and reusing rocket boosters. This innovation has dramatically reduced the cost of launching payloads into space and has made space exploration more accessible. For example, before reusable rockets, the costof launching a satellite into orbit was exorbitant, but now, it's becoming more affordable, leading to a surge insatellite launches for communication, weather monitoring,and scientific research.Another area of advancement is in satellite technology. Satellites play a crucial role in various aspects of our daily lives, from providing GPS navigation to monitoring weather patterns. With advancements in miniaturization and propulsion technology, satellites are becoming smaller, cheaper to manufacture, and more capable. For instance, CubeSats, tiny satellites no larger than a shoebox, are being deployed in constellations to provide global internet coverage. This technology has the potential to bridge the digital divide by bringing internet access to remote areas that were previously underserved.Moreover, space exploration missions have expanded our understanding of the universe and its potential for harboring life. Robotic probes like the Mars rovers have uncovered evidence suggesting that the Red Planet may have once supported life. These missions not only fuel our curiosity but also inspire future generations to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). As the saying goes, "The sky's thelimit," but in the case of space exploration, there are no limits to what we can achieve.In conclusion, space technology has come a long way and continues to evolve at a rapid pace. From reusable rocketsto advanced satellites and robotic probes, our explorationof space is unlocking new opportunities and shaping the future of humanity. As we venture further into the cosmos, we must remember that the journey is just as important as the destination."中文,"太空科技自我小时候起就一直吸引着我。
人工智能太空探索作文英语
人工智能太空探索作文英语Artificial Intelligence in Space Exploration。
Artificial intelligence (AI) has played a crucial role in advancing space exploration in recent years. With its ability to analyze vast amounts of data, make decisions quickly, and adapt to changing environments, AI has revolutionized the way we explore the cosmos. From autonomous rovers on Mars to intelligent satellitesorbiting Earth, AI has enabled us to push the boundaries of what is possible in space exploration.One of the most significant applications of AI in space exploration is in the development of autonomous spacecraft. These spacecraft are equipped with AI systems that can make decisions on their own, without human intervention. This allows them to navigate through space, collect data, and even repair themselves if necessary. For example, the Mars Curiosity rover is able to analyze its surroundings, plan its own route, and avoid obstacles without direct inputfrom Earth. This level of autonomy is essential for missions to distant planets where communication delays make real-time control impossible.AI is also being used to analyze the vast amounts of data collected by space telescopes and satellites. These AI systems can quickly identify patterns, anomalies, and trends in the data that human researchers might miss. For example, AI algorithms have been used to discover new exoplanets, map the distribution of dark matter in the universe, and predict solar flares before they happen. By automating the data analysis process, AI has enabled scientists to make new discoveries and gain a deeper understanding of the cosmos.In addition to autonomous spacecraft and data analysis, AI is also being used to improve the safety and efficiency of space missions. AI systems can monitor the health of astronauts, predict equipment failures, and optimize the use of resources on long-duration missions. For example, AI algorithms have been used to track the mental and physical health of astronauts on the International Space Station,detect signs of illness before they become serious, and recommend personalized exercise and nutrition plans. By using AI to support human crews in space, we can ensurethat they stay healthy, productive, and safe during their missions.Looking to the future, AI will continue to play a vital role in space exploration. As we send missions to more distant planets, asteroids, and moons, AI will be essential for navigating the challenges of deep space. AI-powered spacecraft will need to be able to make complex decisionsin real-time, adapt to unforeseen obstacles, and work together as a team to accomplish their goals. By combining the power of AI with human ingenuity, we can unlock the mysteries of the universe and pave the way for future generations to explore the cosmos.In conclusion, artificial intelligence has revolutionized space exploration by enabling autonomous spacecraft, automating data analysis, and supporting human crews on long-duration missions. As we continue to push the boundaries of what is possible in space, AI will play anincreasingly important role in helping us navigate the challenges of deep space and unlock the secrets of the cosmos. By harnessing the power of AI, we can ensure that the future of space exploration is bright and full of exciting discoveries.。
机器人视觉技术的发展和应用
机器人视觉技术的发展和应用With the rapid development of technology, the field of robotics has witnessed significant growth in recent years. One of the most important advancements in the realm of robotics is the integration of computer vision technology. Machine vision technology has emerged as a field of robotics that enables robots to see, perceive and recognize objects in the environment. This breakthrough innovation has opened up a plethora of possibilities for robotics applications.Robot vision technology is based on the principles of computer vision and image processing. It combines sensors, cameras, and computers in a single system that enables robots to see the world around them. The robots have the ability to sense and understand their environment, navigate and interact with it, and perform complex tasks without human intervention.The applications of robotic vision technology are endless, ranging from industrial automation, agriculture, medicine, security, and surveillance. In industrial automation, robot vision systems can be used for quality control, inspection, and assembly line production. In agriculture, robot vision systems can be used for monitoring crop health, crop harvesting, and precision agriculture. In medicine, robot vision systems can be used for diagnosis, surgery, and rehabilitation. Insecurity and surveillance, robot vision systems can be used for object detection, tracking, and real-time monitoring.The development of machine vision technology has led to the creation of intelligent robots that are capable of learning and adapting to their environment. With the help of machine learning algorithms, robots can now recognize patterns, identify objects, and even make decisions based on the information collected. Machine learning algorithms are essential for creating autonomous robots that can perform complex tasks without human intervention.One of the most prominent examples of robot vision technology is the self-driving car. Self-driving cars use machine vision technology to collect data from multiple sensors such as cameras and LIDARs, and use machine learning algorithms to process this information and make decisions in real-time. Self-driving cars are transforming the transportation industry by providing safer and more efficient means of transportation.Another application of robot vision technology is in the field of medical diagnostics. Robot vision systems can be used to detect early signs of diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer's. These systems use advanced machine learning algorithms to analyze medical images andprovide accurate diagnoses, thus enabling early intervention and better patient outcomes.In conclusion, the development of robot vision technology is transforming the field of robotics and creating new possibilities for innovation. The integration of computer vision and machine learning algorithms has enabled robots to see, perceive, and interact with their environment. The applications of robot vision technology are limitless, ranging from industrial automation to medical diagnostics. As the technology continues to advance, it will undoubtedly play a significant role in shaping the future of robotics.。
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On Satellite Vision-aided Robotics Experiment Maarten Vergauwen,Marc Pollefeys,Tinne Tuytelaars and Luc Van GoolESAT–PSI,K.U.Leuven,Kard.Mercierlaan94,B-3001Heverlee,BelgiumPhone:+32-16-32.10.64,Fax:+32-16-32.17.23vergauwe|pollefey|tuytelaa|vangool@esat.kuleuven.ac.beAbstractThis contribution describes the vision-based robotic control(VBRC)experiments executed on the Japanese research satellite ETS-VII.The VBRC experiments were designed to enhance image quality,refine calibra-tion of different system components,facilitate robot-operation by automatically refining the robot-pose and provide data for robot-calibration.1IntroductionThe vision-based robotic control(VBRC)experiments were executed on the Japanese research satellite ETS-VII[5]in conjunction with the Visual Interactive Au-tonomy Bi-Lateral Experiments(VIABLE)between ESA and NASDA.The VIABLE1project is thefirst collaboration be-tween ESA and NASDA with the aim to test the In-teractive Autonomy(IA)concept for space robotics and to investigate advanced vision-based techniques for robot-control and calibration.The ETS-VII satellite is equipped with a6-DOF robot manipulator and two sets of cameras.The VIABLE experiments had access to a taskboard that allows sev-eral tasks to be executed by the manipulator.The taskboard contains a set of3-point calibration mark-ers with known3D positions in the taskboard reference frame.The ETS-VII onboard vision system consists of two sets of cameras.The arm monitor camera(AMC)is mounted on thefirst joint and the arm hand camera (AHC)is mounted on the end effector of the robot arm.Each set contains two cameras,one primary and one redundant unit.Both can be utilized as stereo 1The VIABLE consortium consisted of the Belgian compa-nies TRASYS-SPACE and SAS and the K.U.Leuven depart-ments PMA and ESAT-PSI.head with60mm baseline.Each camera records a grey level image with668x480pixel resolution with fixed focal length.The images are compressed with JPEG by a factor of8.6to yield a frame rate of4im-ages per second on the video downlink.Two NTSC video channels allow access of two camera images si-multaneously.2VBRC ExperimentsThe VBRC experiments were designed to •enhance the image quality to allow better visual control,•refine calibration of the system components(in-trinsic camera parameters,eye-hand calibration) based on the calibration markers,•perform on-line pose estimation procedures and guide the robot by automatically refining the robot pose,•aid the operator during the experiments with vi-sual clues using augmented reality techniques,•provide material for post-mission robot calibra-tion and testing of advanced methods for uncali-brated vision experiments.3Viable station setupAn important part of the VBRC experiments is the capability of the Vision Tools to allow operator in-tervention during execution of a vision task.Image processing and computer vision is a process with pos-sibly many sources for errors that can not all be mod-eled beforehand.Therefore a user-friendly interfacewas developed to assist the VBRC tasks.The inter-face allowed the operator to interact with the vision system to guide and help the automatic processing. While the human operator is very good at interpret-ing the scene and recognizing qualitative information, the vision system is good at precise quantitative mea-surements when given the appropriate input data. To simulate and verify the VIABLE experiments a photo-realistic3D model of the taskboard and the robot was constructed.This model served as refer-ence for the IA path planning(in ROBCAD)and the VBRC visual simulator(in OpenInventor).The model allowed the realistic visual simulation of all aspects of the experiments.Verification of this simulation was performed with a mockup taskboard of scale1:1.It contained all visu-ally significant parts and served as a realistic testbed for the VBRC experiments.4Enhancing the image qualityAfirst set of experiments evaluated the impact of the imaging conditions in space(degradation of the im-ages due to noise,image compression,direct sunlight, etc.)and derived parameters for image preprocessing. Analysis of the images that were taken for this purpose yielded a set of parameters for image-enhancementfil-ters.Evaluation led to the followingfilter sequence: 1.a medianfilter.This non-linearfilter effectivelyremoves spikes and noise in the image but pre-serves the edges.It was chosen for its capacity to remove the ringing that typically occurs around the edges of an image when JPEG compression is used.Because the JPEG-ringing was quite severe,a window-size of5was used for most images.2.a binomialfilter.This low-passfilter smoothesthe image to remove noise.It has the advantage over standard meanfiltering that its frequency response has no ripples.3.a sharpeningfilter.This unsharp-maskingfil-ter cancels the smoothing of the edges caused by the previousfilter.4.radial distortion compensation.Thisfilterundoes the quite severe radial distortion of the images.5.aspect ratio compensation.This procedurerestores the original aspect ratio of the imagewhich was changed due to the conversion to NTSC.These preprocessingfilters were applied to all incom-ing images before further processing.5InvariantsQuite some experiments about calibration,pose esti-mation and robot calibration rely on the automatic extraction and identification procedures of certain ob-jects in the scene.These procedures are based on the concept of invariants and are discussed in this section.5.1General conceptInvariance is an important concept in computer vision applications.Per definition,an invariant feature is a feature that remains unchanged under a certain type of transformation.If for example a feature is projec-tively invariant,it is invariant under changing view-points of the camera.In the VBRC experiments this concept is applied to the3-point calibration markers. The3D position of these markers on the taskboard is given.The markers are robustly extracted in the im-age and the corresponding3D features are found au-tomatically using viewpoint invariant relations.These 2D-3D relations can then be used to compute the po-sition and orientation of the camera in the taskboard frame.Two strategies are developed.5.2Invariants based on cross-ratioIf enough markers are visible,ellipses are found in the image and marker points are extracted as ellipse cen-ters.Collinear points are easily found back in the image because collinearity is projectively invariant:if 3points are collinear in3D,they will also be in ev-ery image.For4collinear points the cross ratio is invariant under projective transformations[1].x3−x1x2−x3x4−x1x2−x4=y3−y1y2−y3y4−y1y2−y4This allows us tofind back automatically which collinear points correspond to markers and which do not.Now we only have to identify the markers:which marker in the image corresponds to which3D marker? This is done by computing the cross ratio of the points on the line with the intersection point of two lines. Figure1shows the marker points and lines found back by this approach.Figure 1:Marker points (found as ellipse centers)are grouped into lines using viewpoint invariant relations.The lines for each marker block are superimposed (in white)over the image for visual confirmation.Corre-spondences between the lines and marker blocks are also computed which yields 2D-3D relations.5.3Invariants based on common tangentsIf the camera is closer to the taskboard and only one 3-point marker is visible,a different approach is used.Because the ellipses can be extracted more reliably in this case,we can use them (and not only their center points)to find enough 2D-3D correspondences.The fact is exploited that tangent points of two ellipses with a common tangent are invariant under projec-tive transformations.In figure 2the common tangent point and lines are superimposed over one of the 3-pointmarkers.Figure 2:Common tangent lines of ellipses yield tan-gent points that are invariant under projective trans-formations.The ellipses and their common tangent lines are superimposed (in white)over the image for visual confirmation.This yields 2D-3D relations.6CalibrationOnline calibration is one of the crucial needs in the VI-ABLE project because no a priory calibration of the intrinsic camera parameters,the eye-hand,or robot pose is available.Only approximate calibration pa-rameters could be obtained from the specification doc-uments and from a limited set of images taken while the system was still on ground.We therefore designed a set of calibration experiments that verified and re-fined the approximate calibration from images during the flight segment.These experiments are explained in paragraph 6.1and 6.2.6.1Camera intrinsic calibrationCalibrating the intrinsic parameters of the camera is an important task in every application where measure-ments in the image are used to compute 3D spatial information like camera poses or 3D reconstructions.Based on two images of a calibration pattern that were taken by the cameras before the satellite was launched the intrinsic parameters of the cameras were computed.During the flight segment images of the 3-point mark-ers were taken by the AHC.These markers served as a calibration pattern.The result of the processing of these images was consistent with the precomputed val-ues of both intrinsic parameters and radial distortion.6.2Eye-hand calibrationFor robot guidance from images the relative transfor-mation between the cameras and the robot tip frame –the eye-hand calibration –has to be known.A pro-cedure was developed especially targeted towards the ETS-VII robot.When the robot executes the proce-dure to grasp the grapple-fixture (GPF),it comes into contact with the taskboard in a predefined position and orientation.In this specific pose,the cameras are approximately aligned with 3-point markers.These markers are exploited to compute the camera poses with the second technique explained in paragraph 5.3.Based on these computed camera poses and the fixed robot pose,the eye-hand calibration can be calculated.Figure 3shows the setup of this calibration experi-ment.Figure3:Setup for the eye-hand calibration experi-ment.The robot is touching the GPF and the AHC is above a3-point marker.The common tangent points are found and based on these2D-3D relations the cam-era pose is computed.This yields the eye-hand cali-bration of the camera.7Pose estimation and on-line robot guidanceSeveral experiments concerning pose estimation and on-line robot guidance were performed during the flight segments.7.1Calculating pose from known markers Afirst experiment consisted of calculating the robot pose from the known3-point markers.The robot moved to a position where different markers were ing the invariant relations described in para-graph5.2,2D-3D relations were found.These rela-tions were the input for a robust camera pose estima-tion algorithm.An immediate verification of the cur-rent calibration status and the accuracy of the com-puted position could be supplied to the operator by superimposing parts of the given CAD-model with the actual images,using the calculated position.An ex-ample of this superimposition can be seen infigure4.A second step in this experiment consisted in moving the camera to a position much closer to one of the3-point markers.The robot was intentionally positioned in a pose not perfectly above the marker.The second invariant method of paragraph5.3was used to calcu-late the camera-(and using the eye-hand transforma-tion also the robot-)pose.Parts of the model were reprojected into the actual image to verify the calcu-lation(figure5).Using the computed pose,a relative translation-and orientation-change was computedto Figure4:From automatically found2D-3D relations the camera pose is computed.Parts of the model are superimposed over the real image and give a very good and intuitive verification of the calibration accuracy. position the robot perfectly above the3-point marker (figure6).Figure5:From automatically found2D-3D relations the camera pose is computed.Verification of the result is possible by reprojection of parts of the CAD-model in the image.7.2Insertion of GPF into a holeThe ETS-VII robot has the possibility to attach a grapple-fixture(GPF)to its end effector and insert it into different holes and a slider on the taskboard. Usually,positioning of the robot is done manually by the operator who uses the artificial markers as a vi-sual clue.During the VIABLE experiments we showed that positioning could be done automatically using the image of the hole or slider only.This is especially im-portant for the case of the slider because its exact position is unknown due to possible previous motions.Figure6:After a relative motion from the currentposition(left image),automatically computed by thevision-tools,the AHC ends up perfectly above the3-point marker(right image).This is verified visuallyby the fact that the central marker tip is centeredperfectly with the outer marker ring.Using an ellipse-fitting algorithm the hole or slider wasextracted and the center point was found.This al-lowed the algorithm to compute a relative update ofthe current pose to position the GPF perfectly abovethe hole or slider.The image was augmented with thecurrent impact point of the GPF(the point where theGPF would hit the taskboard if it were lowered fromits current position)and the estimated impact pointafter relative motion.During operations the robot wasdeliberately mispositioned above both hole and slider.The algorithm managed to automatically update thepose to allow insertion.Figure7shows both current(misplaced)and estimated impactpoint.Figure7:The vision system computes the current im-pact point of the GPF.The center point of the slider isextracted automatically and the relative movement iscomputed to position the GPF above the slider.Thepredicted impact point is shown tofit into the hole.8Taskboard calibration and recon-struction8.1Calibration of3-point markersThe3-point markers on the taskboard are importantfor vision-based algorithms.The calculation of thecamera pose from2D-3D relations,found by the algo-rithm,needs the exact3D coordinates of these mark-ers.Experiments were designed which could retrievethis information.Because a good estimate of the3D coordinates of themarkers was supplied to us by NASDA,a quick andeasy check on the consistency of this data could beperformed.We moved the robot over the taskboardto different positions for which different markers werevisible in the images.We computed the camera posebased on the markers and reprojected the given3-point markers in the original image.The estimatedmean reprojection error was below a pixel which con-firmed the consistency of the marker positions.The coordinates of the3-point markers can also beexplicitly retrieved from images.This is what wasdone in another experiment.Three different images,taken from three different poses,showed the same3-point markers.Based on the given pose of the robotand the eye-hand calibration the camera poses werecomputed.Based on the identification of the markersgiven by the invariants,multiple-view matches werefound.The markers could then be reconstructed in3D by triangulation.The resulting data was consistentwith the given3D information(up to the accuracy ofthe reconstruction of2.23mm in x,1.45mm in y and0.84mm in z).8.2Taskboard reconstructionIn an advanced experiment we investigated novel tech-niques for calibration based on image data alone,with-out the need to know precise3D calibration markers.Based on a sequence of images taken from differentview points,one can obtain a metric calibration(upto a constant scale factor)of the cameras and the scene(see[2,3]).This technique allows the handling of apriory unknown objects with little calibration infor-mation.For these experiments we recorded predefinedimage sequences during theflight segment and evalu-ated these techniques in the post processing phase.Figure8shows some results of the reconstruction ofthe slider-area of the taskboard.Thefigure showsviews of the reconstruction without any manual re-finement.In a post processing step it is easy to obtainreconstructions of parts of the taskboard by human in-teraction in the image only,using the computed depthdata.Figure8:Different artificial views from the recon-struction of the slider-area of the taskboard.9Robot calibrationRobot calibration is a procedure which aims at im-provement of the robot accuracy by modifying therobot positioning software,rather than changing or al-tering the design of the robot or its control system[4].The procedure that is followed to obtain this goal is•position the robot in different poses,trying to ex-cite all possible modes,•measure these poses with a measurement system,•compute the difference between these measuredposes and the pose computed from the jointstelemetry by the forward kinematics model of therobot.If all modes are excited sufficiently this allows to iden-tify updates to be made to the current model.Standard robot calibration procedures obtain posemeasurements from external measuring systems.Inthe case of the ETS-VII robot no such system is avail-able.Instead we computed the robot poses from the3-point markers as explained in paragraph7.1.Since the taskboard on which all VBRC experimentswere conducted is placed in one corner of the ETS-VII satellite,we could excite only a limited range ofvalues in joint space.Ongoing evaluation will show ifall joint offsets and link lengths can be identified or ifcomputing a subset will yield better results.10ConclusionIn this paper the vision-based robotic control exper-iments,executed on the Japanese satellite ETS-VIIwere described.The on-board vision system has suc-cesfully been used to perform several on-line and off-line calibration procedures,robot guidance experi-ments and tests of advanced uncalibrated computer-vision algorithms.AcknowledgmentsWe acknowledge support from the Belgian IUAP4/24’IMechS’project.References[1]J.Mundy and A.Zisserman,“Machine Vision”,In J.L.Mundy, A.Zisserman,and D.Forsyth(eds.),Applications of Invariance in ComputerVision,Lecture Notes in Computer Science,Vol.825,Springer-Verlag,1994.[2]M.Pollefeys,R.Koch,M.Vergauwen and L.VanGool,“Metric3D Surface Reconstruction fromUncalibrated Image Sequences”,In ProceedingsSMILE 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