第2035期:Scientists create robotic hand able to hold objects

Researchers say their robotic hand can handle items that are currently too delicate for machines. The hand uses wrist movements and has sensors that developers liken to skin. 

研究人员表示，他们研发的机械手可以操控目前对其它机器人来说过于精致小巧的物品。机械手通过手腕运动工作，装有被研发人员称作像皮肤一样能感知物体的传感器。 

The robot is able to judge how much pressure should be applied to grasp delicate objects, such as those made of glass, without breaking them. But what are the practical uses of a robotic hand that can feel and grip? 

这只机械手能够判断在抓取像玻璃这类易碎物体时应用多大抓力才能拿稳但又不捏碎它们。不过，能够感知和抓握物体的机械手的实际用途有哪些呢？ 

It's early days, but robotics Professor Fumiya Iida says that, in the future, it could be used in medicine and agriculture. He believes the arm could handle soft fruits such as strawberries, replacing human pickers. 

虽然现在还处于早期阶段，但机器人学教授饭田史也表示，在未来，机械手可以用于医学和农业中。他认为这种机械手臂可以代替人类采摘草莓等软的水果。 

Eventually, Professor Iida says it could perform medical tests and reduce diagnosis times for cancer and other conditions. 

饭田教授说，终有一日人们可以用机械手来进行医学检测，从而减少癌症及其它疾病的诊断时间。

词汇表

handle 操控
delicate 精致小巧的，易碎的
wrist movements 手腕运动
liken 把…比作，与…相像
judge 判断
grasp 抓住
practical uses 实际用途
it's early days 为时尚早
human pickers 采摘蔬果的人
diagnosis times 诊断时间