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¹Dexter — исследовательский проект по созданию двуногого гуманоидного робота. Он может ходить и прыгать, отрываясь от пола на доли секунды. Технология приводов его суставов имитирует сухожилия человека. Важной особенностью этого робота, по утверждению инженеров, является то, что он может сам учиться на своих ошибках, например, этот робот сам учился ходить.

EXERCISE 2

Words and expressions to be learnt.

humanoid-	антропоморфный робот
aesthetically [is'thetɪk(ə)lɪ] -	эстетически;чувственно, посредством чувственных ощущений
actuating –	активация, приведение в действие
powerdensity -	плотность рассеиваемой мощности
cognitivescience-	когнитология, наука о мышлении
consciousness ['kɔnʃəsnəs] -	сознание
proprioceptive sensor -	проприоцептор, проприоцептивныйрецептор
mimic ['mɪmɪk] -	имитировать, воспроизводить
concept of zero moment point -	методмоментныхнулевыхточек
tiltsensor -	датчик наклона, электронный уровень
deceptively [dɪ'septɪvlɪ] -	обманчиво
cohesion [kəu'hiʒ(ə)n] -	сплочённость; сцепление, когезия
computationalcomplexity-	вычислительная сложность, число шагов или арифметических операций, требуемых для решения вычислительной проблемы
planningandcontrol -	планирования и управления
sensing -	считывание; восприятие; очувствление (роботов)
spirituality -	духовность, одухотворенность

EXERCISE 3

Determine the parts of speech paying attention to suffixes and prefixes of the following words. Translate them.

Machine - machining; supply - supplier; similar - similarly, direct - direction - directive - directly; differ - different - difference; set - setting; operate - operating - operation - operational - operative - operator; infinite - infinitely, rotate - rotation - rotational - rotative - rotary, advantage - advantageous; change - changer - changeable; remove - removal - removable; vary - various - variable - variety - variant - variation; base - basic – basically; avoid - avoidance; redundant- redundancy; character - characterize – characteristics; indicate- indicator – indicating – indication; dynamo – dynamic – dynamically.

EXERCISE 4

Read the following word combinations and translate them into Russian.

a) variable flexibility; anthropomorphic robot; autonomous robot; self-maintenance; outside assistance; safe interacting; all robotic scales; power/weight ratio; algorithms for the several areas of humanoid construction; in cohesion with; biological and mental processes; concepts of consciousness and spirituality; current and desired motion; zero moment point; highly structured environments.     б)to adapt to changes in its environment; to adjust strategies; to adapt to new situations; to merge all algorithms into one efficient system; to combine their efforts, reason and act like humans; to work in cohesion with humans; to create a more productive and higher quality future; to facilitate the enhancement of ordinary humans; to assist the sick and elderly; to operate equipment and vehicles designed for the human form; to sense the position, the orientation and the speed; to stay still like factory manipulators; to work in highly structured environments; to move in complex environments; to focus on self-collision detection, path planning and obstacle avoidance; to bring more complexity and new problems to planning and control.

EXERCISE 5

You’ve got acquainted with humanoid robots. What do you think as an engineer about robots in general and their application in science? Answerthefollowingquestions.

     1. Which of the humanoids gives more complete characteristics of them? 2. What is meant by proprioceptive sensors? 3. What do the actuators include? 4. What do you think about the future of the humanoids? Do you agree with the conclusion of the text? Give your reasoning.

EXERCISE 6

Guess the meaning of the following word combinations.

Automatic controller; standard program; control system; pneumatic conveyor; a family of components; robot controller; to initiate a signal; a series of machines; a humanoid robot; to adapt to new situations; basic components; sensing, actuating and planning; control system and computational complexity; algorithms for humanoid construction; engineering, cognitive science and linguistics; to create a robot; human intelligence; biological and mental processes; personal assistance; automotive manufacturing line; space exploration missions; to sense the position and orientation; to indicate the actual position of the robot; electric, pneumatic, hydraulic, piezoelectric or ultrasonic actuators; dynamic balance; zero moment; factory manipulators.

EXERCISE 7

Translate the following sentences. Find in each sentence a subject and a predicate.

1.The computer must consider a great deal of information, and decide on the best way to manipulate an object from many possibilities. 2. For simplicity, most mobile robots have wheels. 3.However, some researchers have tried to create more complex wheeled robots, with only one or two wheels. 4. While the Segway is not commonly thought of as a robot, it can be thought of as a component of a robot. 5.Several real robots use a similar dynamic balancing algorithm, and NASA's Robonaut has been mounted on a Segway. 7. Carnegie Mellon University researchers have developed a new type of mobile robot that balances on a ball instead of legs or wheels.8."Ballbot" is a self-contained, battery-operated, omnidirectional robot that balances dynamically on a single urethane-coated metal sphere. 9.Because of its long, thin shape and ability to maneuver in tight spaces, it has the potential to function better than current robots can in environments with people.10. Several robots have been made which can walk reliably on two legs, however none can walk over rocky, uneven terrain.11.Typically, these robots can walk well on flat floors, can occasionally walk up stairs.

EXERCISE 8

Read the textagain. Say, what is especially interesting for you in this text.

EXERCISE 9

Make up a plan to the text. Titleeachabstract.

EXERCISE 10

Summarizeinformationfrom the text.Speak about a humanoid arrangement, problems of its control,scope of its application.