2020-10-11
256
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Give a short summary of the text.
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Give annotation of the text.
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Text 3
Early Developments
The concept of robots dates back to ancient times, when some myths told of mechanical beings brought to life. Such automata also appeared in the clockwork figures of medieval churches, and in the 18th century some clockmakers gained fame for the clever mechanical figures that they constructed. Today the term automaton is usually applied to these handcrafted, mechanical (rather than electromechanical) devices that imitate the motions of living creatures. Some of the «robots» used in advertising and entertainment are actually automata, even with the addition of remote radio control.
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The term robot itself is derived from the Czech word robota, meaning «compulsory labor». It was first used by the Czech novelist and playwright Karel Chapek, to describe a mechanical device that looks like a human but, lacking human sensibility, can perform only automatic, mechanical operations. Robots as they are known today do not only imitate human or other living forms. True robots did not become possible, however, until the invention of the computer in the 1940s and the miniaturization of computer parts. One of the first true robots was an experimental model designed by researchers at the Stanford Research Institute in the late 1960s. It was capable of arranging blocks into stacks through the use of a television camera as a visual sensor, processing this information in a small computer.
Computers today are equipped with microprocessors that can handle the data being fed to them by various sensors of the surrounding environment. Making use of the principle of feedback, robots can change their operations to some degree in response to changes in that environment. The commercial use of robots is spreading, with the increasing automation of factories, and they have become essential to many laboratory procedures. Japan is the most advanced nation exploring robot technology. Nowadays robots continue to expand their applications. The home-made robots available today may be one sign of the future.
Notes on the Text
concept – понятие
dates back to – уходит корнями в…
ancient – древний
mechanical beings – механические существа
automata(pl.) (automaton – sing.) – автоматы
clockwork – часовой механизм
medieval churches – средневековые церкви
clever mechanical figures – умные механические существа
handcrafted devices – устройства сделанные вручную
to imitate the motions – имитировать движения
living creatures – живые существа
automata of remote radio control – автоматы удаленного радио контроля
compulsory labor – принудительный, обязательный
novelist and playwright – романист и драматург
lacking human sensibility – лишенный человеческих чувств
mechanical operations – механические операции
possible – возможный
miniaturization – уменьшение
experimental model – экспериментальная модель
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to be capable of – быть способным на…
to arrange blocks – складывать кубики
a visual sensor – зрительный сенсор
to be equipped with – быть оборудованным
to handle the data – хранить данные
a commercial use – коммерческое использование
automation of factories – автоматизация фабрик
laboratory procedures – лабораторные опыты
the most advanced nation – наиболее передовая нация
to explore – изучать
to become essential – стать важным
to expand one’s applications – расширить применение
the home-made robots – горничные
available – доступный
General understanding:
1. What period does the concept of robots date back? _________________________
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2. When did the first automata appear? ____________________________________
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3. What is the term automaton usually applied to nowadays? ____________________
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4. Where did the term robot appear from? ___________________________________
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5. Who was Karel Chapek? ______________________________________________
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6. Do robots only imitate human? _________________________________________
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7. When and where did the first true robot appear? ____________________________
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8. Was it was capable of doing everything? _________________________________
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9. What spheres does robotics cover? ______________________________________
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10. Nowadays robots continue to expand their applications, don’t they? __________
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Exercises
1. Complete the sentences:
1. The concept of robots dates back________________________________________
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2. Such automata also appeared in_________________________________________
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3. The term automaton is usually applied to__________________________________
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4. Some of the «robots» used in advertising and entertainment are________________
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5. The term robot is derived from__________________________________________
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6. It was first used by ___________________________________________________
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7. Robots as they are known today_________________________________________
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8. True robots did not become possible_____________________________________
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9. One of the first true robots was an experimental model_______________________
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10. Computers today are equipped with_____________________________________
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2. Match Russian and English equivalents:
Concept, robot, ancient times, myths, mechanical beings, automata, clockwork figures, medieval churches, century, clockmakers, fame, clever mechanical figures, handcrafted, mechanical devices, motions, living creatures, advertising and entertainment, addition, a human, automatic, mechanical operations, living forms, invention, the Stanford Research Institute, microprocessors, environment, feedback, operations, automation of factories, essential, robot technology.
Недостаток, древние времена, мифы, реклама и развлечения, важный, умные механические существа, век, средневековые церкви, живые формы, приложение, человек, микропроцессор, операции, окружение, понятие, механические существа, фигурки с часовым механизмом, автоматы, слава, часовщики, сделанный вручную, механические устройства, движения, живые существа, автоматический, механические операции, изобретение, Стэндфордский Исследовательский институт, автоматизация фабрик, робототехнология.
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3. Replace the words and expressions in brackets by their English analogues, translate into Russian:
1. (Автоматизация) _______________________is the (система производства) __________________________performing certain tasks, previously done by people, by (машины) _________________only.
2. The sequences of (операции) __________________are controlled (автоматически) ____________________.
3. The most familiar (пример) _______________of a (высоко автоматизированной системы) __________________________________________is an assembly (завод) __________________ for automobiles or other complex (продуктов)_________________.
4. The term (автоматизация) ____________________is also used to describe non-manufacturing (системы) _____________________ in which (автоматические устройства) ______________________can operate independently of (контроль со стороны человека) ______________________________.
5. Such (устройства) _________________________as automatic pilots, (автоматическое телефонное оборудование) ___________________________and (автоматизированные системы контроля) ___________________________are used to perform various (операции) ________________much faster and better than could be done by people.
6. (Автоматизированное производство) ______________________had several steps in its (развития)___________________.
7. Mechanization was the first step necessary in the (развитии автоматизации) _____________________.
8. The simplification of work made it possible to (сконструировать и построить) __________________________machines that resembled the (движения рабочего) ______________________.
9. These specialized (машины) ____________________________were motorized and they had better production (эффективность) ___________________.
4. Translate into English:
1. автоматические устройства __________________________________________
2. автоматизированное производство ____________________________________
3. выполнять простые задачи___________________________________________
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4. высокоавтоматизированная система___________________________________
5. непроизводственная система__________________________________________
6. автоматические машины_____________________________________________
7. использование автоматизации в производстве___________________________
8. недостатки оборудования____________________________________________
9. специализированная техника_________________________________________
10. производство разнообразной продукции_______________________________
5. Try to explain what do the following statements mean:
1. The concept of robots dates back to ancient times, when some myths told of mechanical beings brought to life.
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2. Robots as they are known today do not only imitate human or other living forms.
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3. True robots did not become possible, however, until the invention of the computer.
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6. Translate the sentences:
1. The robots of our time resemble humans very little. ________________________
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2. According to specialists, the main thing for them is not to look like people, but to do their work for them. _________________________________________________
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3. Factories which are equipped with automatic machine tools, transfer lines and management information systems' place a lot of hope in them. __________________
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4. Automation sought out areas where a robot can operate as well as a person but where people don't like to work. __________________________________________
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5. In other words, man has created the robot so as not to become a robot himself. ___
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6. The first generation of robots appeared in the 60s and they were complex and capricious in maintenance. ______________________________________________
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7. They could perform operations of the type "take off—put on" or "pick up — bring". ______________________________________________________________
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8. They could pick up items only from definite positions determined by a rigid program. ____________________________________________________________
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9. Today, to avoid errors, 2 robots are supplied with vision (TV camera) and hearing (microphone). ________________________________________________________
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10. They can perform more complex production operations — painting, soldering, welding and assembly work. _____________________________________________
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11. A more complex task lies ahead — to remove people completely from production areas where there are harmful fumes, excessively high or low temperatures and pressure. _____________________________________________________________
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12. People should not work in conditions that are dangerous. ___________________
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13. Let the robots replace them mere — and the sooner, the better. _______________
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14. Generally speaking, a single robot by itself is hardly of any use in production. ___
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15. It must be coupled in design4 with other equipment, with a system of machines, machine tools and other devices. __________________________________________
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16. We must set up robotized complexes and flexible productions capable of transferring easily and quickly to an output of new goods. ______________________
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17. Flexible production systems consist, as a rule, of several machine tools with numerical programmed control or of processing centers — machine tools equipped with microprocessors. __________________________________________________
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18. An all-purpose computer controls the entire cycle, including the storage facilities.
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19. One hundred per cent automated production is no longer a dream. ____________
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20. There is already talked of making thinking robots. _________________________
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21. Apparently, robots will appear which will be able to acquire the ability to study.
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22. Maybe they will be able to enrich our concepts about the world around us. _____
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23. But one thing is certain — a robot will never be able to grasp even the semblance of such emotions as love, honor, pride, pity, courage and selflessness. ____________
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7. Fill the gaps with the proper words:
The term _______________ itself is derived from the Czech word ___________, meaning «____________». It was first used by the Czech __________ Karel Chapek, to describe ________________ that looks like __________________ but, lacking human __________, can perform only automatic, _______________. Robots as they are known today do not only ______________ human or other _____________. True robots did not become possible, however, until the __________ in the 1940s and the __________________. One of the first ________________ was an _______________ designed by researchers at the _______________ in the late ____________________. It was capable of _______________________ into stacks through the use of a ___________________ as a visual _______________, processing this ______________ in a small ________.
