To help astronauts of the future survive the mental challenges that come with living in space for extended periods of time, space travelers’ missions could soon be accompanied by AI-powered, empathetic (同理心的) robotic assistants.
Not only does space travel present astronauts with a lot of physical stresses, spending months or years in such a physically demanding place with limited space and the same people can also raise lots of mental tests as well. According to MIT Technology Review, scientists are wording to ease some of the mental challenges facing astronauts by creating “an AI assistant that’s able to feel human emotion and respond with empathy.”
While such a technology would prove itself useful by being able to predict the needs of crew members and “intervene (介入) if their mental health is in need of help, ”it has the potential to he life saving when humans choose to explore beyond the earth’s gravitational field and towards deep space.
Though astronauts currently on the International Space Station have an intelligent robot to interact with, it lacks proper emotional intelligence. As a result, a team at the organization’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory is working on a more advanced and complicated emotional support companion that can control a spacecraft’s functioning in addition to tracking crew member’s behaviors.
Right now in the lab, an AI-equipped robot called Henry the Helper can be found wandering around the grounds helping visitors who appear confused or lost based on their facial expressions. Two more emotionally intelligent robots are expected to be introduced later this year, one of which is said to be able to participate in conversations more complex than giving navigation (导航) assistance.
The team’s final goal is to make a companion named Fiona the Future a reality, an emotionally intelligent cross-platform system. Rather than being limited to a physical robotic device, it could be digitally integrated into space stations and habitats on Mars and beyond. Fiona, if all goes according to the JPL’s plans, will help keep astronauts of the future mentally fit as they start their journeys to deep space.
12. Why are the emotional support robots needed?
A.To help astronauts get rid of physical stresses. |
B.To protect astronauts from emotional suffering. |
C.To achieve the mission of exploring deep space. |
D.To test the robots’ ability to feel human emotions. |
13. What is true about the current intelligent robot on the International Space Station?
A.It can save astronauts’ lives. | B.It can interact with astronauts. |
C.It has emotional intelligence. | D.It can predict astronauts’ needs. |
14. What do we know about Fiona the Future?
A.It is due to be introduced this year. | B.It is available in the space stations. |
C.It is just a physical robotic device. | D.It is more of an intelligent system. |
15. Where does this passage probably come from?
A.A medicine magazine. | B.A business magazine. |
C.A science magazine. | D.A travel magazine. |