2017考研英语拓展阅读：谷歌专利“粘车”减少事故伤害

　　Google has patented a sticky coating for driverless cars that could reduce damage done to pedestrians in the event of a collision.

　　谷歌已经为无人驾驶汽车添加粘性涂层获得专利，该涂层能够在撞倒行人情况下减少对其的损伤。

　　People struck by the vehicle would become glued to its bonnet, rather than being thrown off and further injured.

　　被车辆撞击的人将被粘在引擎盖上，而不是被甩出，导致进一步受伤。

　　One transport safety professor said the concept could reduce injuries sustained in a pedestrian collision.

　　一位运输安全教授说这个概念可以减少与行人碰撞发生的损伤。

　　Google did not say whether it intended to implement the idea in its driverless vehicles.

　　谷歌没有透露是否打算在无人驾驶汽车上实施这个想法。

　　"It does have some merit to it," said Andrew Morris, Professor of Human Factors in Transport Safety at Loughborough University.

　　“这确实有一定道理的，”拉夫堡大学运输安全人为因素的教授安德鲁·莫里斯说。

　　"When pedestrian accidents happen, often the person is thrown up onto the bonnet and there may be injuries from that contact, but sometimes there are not.

　　“当行人事故发生，往往是人被抛到发动机罩上，这可能导致伤害，但有时也不会。”

　　"But when a driver brakes in a collision, a totally natural reaction, the pedestrian is thrown onto the ground and you can get injuries from that contact."

　　“但是，当司机刹车，这是一个完全自然的反应，行人会被抛出到地上，这就会导致伤害。”

　　Google’s patent explained that the adhesive layer would be hidden under a protective coating, to ensure it did not gather debris during journeys.

　　谷歌的专利解释说，粘合剂层将被隐藏在一个保护层下，以确保它的行程期间不会聚集碎片。

　　"Upon the initial impact between the colliding object and the vehicle, the coating is broken, exposing the adhesive layer," the patent document said.

　　“在碰撞物体和车辆之间初始冲击时，涂层将破碎，暴露出粘合剂层，”据专利文本所述。

　　Prof Morris said it remained to be seen whether the idea would work in practice.

　　莫里斯教授说该想法是否会在实际中运用仍有待观察。

　　"Whether they could realistically make a car that has the right material in it and works reliably, we can’t categorically say that," he told the BBC.

　　“他们能否切实地在车上涂合适的材料并让其可靠地发挥作用，我们还不能下结论，”他告诉BBC。

　　Kevin Clinton, head of road safety at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, said: "As well as developing new technology that prevents pedestrians from being hit in the first place, it’s also crucial to develop ways of reducing the severity of injuries suffered if a pedestrian is knocked over."

　　事故预防皇家学会的道路安全负责人凯文·克林顿说：“除了开发新的技术，以防止行人被撞，减少被撞倒后的伤害程度也同样重要。”

　　"This idea is a fascinating example of just how far vehicle technology is changing," he told the BBC.

　　“这是个汽车技术已经发生重大改变的一个有趣例子，”他告诉BBC。

　　"It will obviously need to be developed and tested to ensure that it works reliably and doesn’t cause any unintended consequences."

　　“显然我们需要开发和测试，以确保其可靠地发挥作用，而不会造成任何意想不到的后果。”