双语新闻：谷歌无人驾驶汽车横空出世

2014-06-04 18:00:46来源：可可英语

　　Some have questioned Google's (GOOG) ability to mass manufacturer vehicles. Then again, Tesla (TSLA) had no history of building cars and it turned itself into a manufacturer in short order.

　　有些人对谷歌是否有能力成为大型汽车生产商提出了质疑。不过，特斯拉(Tesla)过去也没有生产汽车的经历，却迅速地摇身一变成为汽车生产商。

　　The drawing of Google's prototype suggests a small urban runabout that looks nothing like a conventional car. The exterior will be soft, to protect pedestrians or bicyclists that might bump into it.

　　谷歌原型车的蓝图像是一辆小型的城市轻便车，而不是传统的轿车。汽车外部也许会比较柔软，以此保护可能不慎撞上它的行人或骑自行车的人。

　　Urmson didn't rule out that Google might join forces with another automaker. Yet the company's decision to create its own vehicle could influence, affect, and perhaps accelerate the thinking and plans of auto industry executives and engineers. Until now, global automakers have thought in terms of incremental steps, such as adaptive cruise control and automatic braking that aid drivers and provide backup systems, without assuming complete control.

　　厄姆森并没有排除谷歌联合其他汽车生产商的可能性。不过谷歌开发自有汽车的决定可能会影响、甚至促使汽车业高管和工程师的思路和规划加快步伐。到目前为止，全球的汽车生产商仍着眼于循序渐进的步骤，比如自适应巡航控制系统、帮助司机的自动制动器、在汽车上提供后备系统等等。他们还没有考虑彻底让汽车自己控制自己。

　　Mainstream automakers often refer to high-tech sensors and features, already available on many premium models, as providing "co-piloting." A few auto companies have kept an eye on the rapid development of software and artificial intelligence that arguably can drive a car more safely than a human and have announced plans to offer a driverless car. Carlos Ghosn, chief executive officer of Renault and Nissan, has targeted 2020 for introduction of a driverless model. Volvo has demonstrated a car that can self-park, without a driver, to journalists; it will be available in 2017, the company says.

　　主流的汽车生产商通常会采用高科技传感器及高科技元素，这些在许多高端汽车上已经得以采用，比如“辅助驾驶”功能。少数汽车公司已经开始关注软件和人工智能领域的飞速发展，利用它们或许可以让汽车比在人类的操控下更安全地行进。这些公司已经提出了研发无人驾驶汽车的计划。法国雷诺(Renault)和日本日产(Nissan)的首席执行官卡洛斯o戈恩已经确立目标：在2020年推出一款无人驾驶汽车。沃尔沃(Volvo)也向记者展示了一款不需要司机，可以自动泊车的产品。这家公司表示，这款汽车将于2017年上市。

　　As digital technology proliferates, automakers are understandably reluctant to relinquish control of their vehicles' "brains" to Google or any third-party. The most far-sighted thinkers are beginning to imagine the car as a platform for e-commerce, where drivers might receive discounts and other offers as they approach a Wal-Mart (WMT) or a McDonald's (MCD). If Google is right, that motorists no longer need to drive, cars may wind up carrying no occupants at times and could ride empty, picking up travelers or delivering merchandise as needed.

　　我们可以理解，尽管数码技术正在迅猛发展，但汽车生产商并不愿意将他们对汽车“大脑”的控制权拱手让给谷歌或其他第三方。最有远见的思想家已经开始设想将汽车作为电子商务的平台，驾驶员可以在光临沃尔玛(Wal-Mart)或麦当劳(McDonald)时得到折扣或其他优惠。如果谷歌的思路没错，那么汽车以后便不必时刻搭载车主，也可以根据需要空驶、搭载旅客或运送货物。

　　For many, the thought of traveling in a car that drives itself may seem improbable, if not horrifying. But Google already has logged hundreds of thousands of accident-free test miles. Others have as well. The auto industry, particularly its newest members, is proving that highly advanced vehicles will possess abilities once only described as science fiction.

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