美國使用無人機預測巖石滑坡，觀察野生動物

美國使用無人機預測巖石滑坡，觀察野生動物

In the western American state of Utah, drone aircraft are flying near avalanches to watch snow crashing down from mountains.

在美國西部的猶他州，無人機在雪崩區(qū)附近飛行，以監(jiān)視從山上墜落的雪。

Drones are also being used in the southeastern United States. For example, in North Carolina, they are searching for endangered birds and the places they use to raise their young.

無人機在美國東南部也有應用，比如，在卡羅萊納州北部，無人機用來尋找瀕危的鳥類及它們哺育后代的地方。

Public transportation agencies are using drones in nearly every state. That information comes the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, or AASHTO.

公共交通機構幾乎在每個州都使用無人機，這一信息來自于美國國家公路和交通官員協(xié)會，又稱AASHTO。

In a report released this month, the nonprofit group found a large increase in the use of drones over the past few years. The aircraft are also called unmanned aerial vehicles.

在本月發(fā)布的一份報告中，非營利組織發(fā)現(xiàn)，過去幾年無人機的使用率大大增加，無人機也被叫做無人駕駛飛行器。

The association’s survey found that governments as well as private citizens have accepted the technology. They include individuals who love flying model aircraft.

該組織的調查發(fā)現(xiàn)，政府和個人都接受了這項技術，包括喜歡無人機模型的人。

In 2016, the group found that no state transportation agency was using drones every day. Now, 36 states employ certified drone pilots.

2016年，該組織發(fā)現(xiàn)，國際交通機構并不是每天都使用無人機，現(xiàn)在，36個州雇傭了專業(yè)的無人機飛行員。

Jim Tymon is the executive director of the association. “You’ve seen the cost of drones come down significantly, and the capabilities that come along with some drones increase significantly as well,” he said.

吉姆·廷蒙是該協(xié)會的執(zhí)行董事，他說：“可以看到無人機方面的成本大大下降，而且無人機的也性能大大改善。”

Jared Esselman is the director of aeronautics at the Utah Department of Transportation. He says that drones are valuable for all kinds of work.

杰瑞德·埃塞爾曼是猶他州交通部航空學主任，他說，無人機在所有種類的工作中都有很大價值。

“We can predict not only snow slides, but mudslides and water runoff as the snow melts,” Esselman said. “Drones are a perfect tool for any job that is dangerous or dirty.”

“我們不僅可以預測雪崩，還可以預測雪融時的泥石流，徑流。”埃塞爾曼說，“無人機是任何危險或骯臟的工作中的完美工具。”

In North Carolina, drones are finding the nests of endangered species like the red-cockaded woodpecker, reports Basil Yap. He is the unmanned aerial systems program manager at the state’s transportation department.

據Basil Yap報道，在北卡羅來納州，無人機發(fā)現(xiàn)了瀕危物種紅嘴啄木鳥的巢穴。他是國家交通部的無人駕駛航空系統(tǒng)項目經理。

People once used helicopters or all-terrain vehicles to inspect for evidence of woodpeckers before building new projects. But the drones can do the job quicker with fewer problems, Yap said.

新項目建立之前，人們曾用直升機或全地形車去監(jiān)測啄木鳥的行蹤，但是無人機可以更快，更精準地完成這項工作。Yap說。

A number of states are beginning to explore how to create laws to control a flood of private drone traffic that is likely to come in the future. In Ohio, the state government is working on an air-traffic control system, called SkyVision, which would enable drones to recognize and avoid other aircraft in flight.

很多州都開始探索怎樣立法控制將來可能發(fā)生的私人無人機洪流阻塞交通的問題。在俄亥俄州，州政府致力于建立空中交通管制系統(tǒng)-SkyVision，該系統(tǒng)可以幫助無人機在空中識別并避讓其他飛行器。

I'm John Russell.

約翰·羅素報道。
 

Words in This Story

avalanche – n. a large amount of snow and ice or of dirt and rocks that slides suddenly down the side of a mountain

survey – n. a study or investigation

certified – adj. having met the official requirements that are needed to do a particular type of work

nest – n. a place made or chosen by a bird for sheltering its young