Research from Harvard University’s Wyss Institute have made “robotic shorts” that can help people use less energy when they walk or run.
In the past, such devices have focused only on helping people walk or run, but not both, since walking and running use different hip (臀部) movements. But a computer on the shorts can tell which way the user is moving,
The researchers found that the main benefit of the shorts was reducing the energy people needed to walk or run. In tests, the energy needed for walking was reduced by 9.3 percent.
The researchers said that while the shorts weigh about 5 kilograms, moving with them makes users feel lighter. The tests showed that a person walking with the device would feel 4 kilograms lighter,
The team now also wants to make the device itself 40 percent lighter. They hope the shorts can help people in danger of injury at work and those who want to improve their physical performance,
| A．as well as those with disabilities. |
| B．Are you eager to possess such kind of shorts? |
| C．and someone running would feel 5.7 kilograms lighter. |
| D．For running, people needed about 4 percent less energy. |
| E．but those excellent athletes are also able to benefit from running. |
| F．The shorts are made of soft material and are designed to be easy to move in. |
| G．allowing the device to provide the right kind of assistance for both movements. |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】"Barefoot Mike" gets a lot of attention when he shows up at the beginning of a race. He loves to run and has been running since he was a kid. He loves to race, and often competes in 10K races. But that’s not the reason he gets so much attention. People notice him because when he runs, “Barefoot Mike” runs barefoot.
Running barefoot has become a huge trend in the world of running. “I didn't set out to be a trend setter,” laughed
“Barefoot Mike”, otherwise known as Mike Whitaker. “I've always been a runner, but until a few years ago, I always wore shoes. Then one day I was running after a rainstorm. I stepped off into the grass to avoid a puddle(水坑) on the sidewalk, and accidentally stepped into a huge muddy puddle that had been hidden in the grass. I tried to keep running, but the wet and dirty shoe made it really hard. I figured the best solution was to just get rid of the shoes.”
Mike took off his shoes and dropped them into the nearest trash can. “Then I started running. At first I went really slowly because I was watching out for rocks or other things that could hurt my feet, but there really weren't any problems.” He started going faster. “It felt so good!” Mike said. “My knee, which always ached, didn't ache. My foot was able to spread out so I had better balance. And my feet didn't feel all hot and sweaty. It was awesome!”
“There are actually potential health benefits to running barefoot,” said Dr. Nancy Bower, a podiatrist(足科医师)．
A recent study agrees. A team of researchers recently videotaped several people running —first wearing shoes and then barefoot. In almost every case, when wearing shoes, the runners tended to land on the heel of their foot, which they call “heelstriking.” Many runners have impact injuries such as knee pain. Heelstriking may be the cause of these injuries or may make an existing injury worse.
When running barefoot, the runners tended to land on the middle part of the foot. The force is spread out throughout the foot. The ankle, shin(胫部), knee and hip don't get the shock of a hard landing with every step.
1. Why does Mike receive a lot of attention while running?| A．Because he runs very fast. |
| B．Because he loses his shoes. |
| C．Because he wears no shoes. |
| D．Because he wears strange clothes. |
| A．He liked running barefoot. |
| B．He was advised to run barefoot. |
| C．His shoe became very uncomfortable. |
| D．His dream of becoming famous motivated him. |
| A．was very tired |
| B．was badly hurt |
| C．gave up running |
| D．felt unexpectedly great |
| A．is bad for one's health |
| B．is caused by existing injuries |
| C．happens when one runs barefoot |
| D．can be avoided by wearing sports shoes. |
【推荐2】According to research, about 21.5 million American children between the ages of six and seventeen are involved (参与的) in a team sport.
A 2006 report shows that taking up sports can increase both emotional and behavioral well-being in teenagers. And increased well-being can lead to higher confidence, which results in better overall performance.
Actually, sports give children an opportunity to communicate with adults in valuable and positive ways, which can help them develop closer relationships with adults. This effect is especially great when children don’t get along well with their family members.
Although most effects of sports on children are good, there can be disadvantages. If the pressure to win is overemphasized (过分强调) or the expectations of parents or coaches become too great, kids may experience lots of stress.
| A．Being physically fit is linked to having a higher IQ. |
| B．They may take part in sports for fun or to develop some skills. |
| C．However, children hardly play sports when they become older. |
| D．It can cause worries, headaches, stomach aches, and muscle pain. |
| E．For example, children involved in sports are likely to do well in their studies. |
| F．Organized sports require children to work together to achieve a common goal. |
| G．Many children say sports have helped increase their conversations with parents. |
【推荐3】Is running a marathon (马拉松) under two hours possible? Will a human ever be able to run that fast? Now, the world record for the 42.195km (26.219 miles) distance is held by the Kenyan runner Eliud Kipchoge. His time of 2:01:39 hours was achieved at the Berlin Marathon of 2018.
But studies published in the past have come to the conclusion that running a marathon under 2 hours can be done. They even see a time of around 1:57 as the fastest a human can ever run. However, we may have to wait longer for this to happen.
To achieve an under two-hour marathon, an athlete would have to have the perfect body size and weight, the right running plans and of course, the right nutrition (营养). Today’s perfect runners come from Kenya and Ethiopia, countries that have dominated (占优势) long distance races for years. East African athletes have long legs and lungs that can take in lots of oxygen (氧). Training at high altitudes (海拔) gives them a strong heart. Ideal weather conditions with cool temperatures and no wind will also be needed to attempt such a mark. An extremely fast marathon would only be possible on flat city courses, like Berlin or London.
Since the beginning of the modern Olympic Games in 1896, athletes have tried to run long distance races as fast as possible. In 1900, the marathon world record was at around 3 hours. In the following 30 years, men were able to reach a mark of 2:30. But in the last 15 years, the world record has improved by only 3 minutes.
On the other side, some experts think that such fast performances will only be possible with the help of some medicine.
1. Why is the world record mentioned in Paragraph 1?| A．To show a human can run very fast. |
| B．To prove Eliud Kipchoge is the best. |
| C．To introduce the greatest success in the world. |
| D．To show an under two hour marathon hasn’t been achieved yet. |
| A．It requires too many things to fit together. |
| B．It isn’t easy to find right running plans. |
| C．Training a perfect runner takes a long time. |
| D．Kenyan and Ethiopian runners control marathons. |
| A．High altitudes. | B．Lots of oxygen. |
| C．A perfect environment. | D．Tall and strong runners. |
| A．Men will run faster and faster. |
| B．Men made the greatest progress in 1930. |
| C．Achieving shorter time became more difficult. |
| D．It’s impossible to break the marathon world record. |
【推荐1】Animal leather alternatives like PVC leather may have solved the fashion industry’s animal cruelty problem, but they are not the most environmentally friendly solutions. Piñatex——a new leather——like material made from pineapple leaves——on the other hand, may just be the all-around eco-leather we’ve all been waiting for.
Piñatex is the invention of Dr. Carmen Hijosa and her modern materials company, Ananas Anam. While working as a consultant to the Product Development and Design Center of the Philippines in the 1990s, she discovered the character of pineapple leaf fibers and devoted her life to creating sustainable alternatives to leather. After years of research, Ananas Anam has finally come up with what it believes is an alternative to animal leather——Piñatex. It recently showcased (展示) the different uses of Piñatex during a presentation held at the Royal College of Art in London, where designers displayed various clothing items and decorative items made entirely from the material.
Piñatex is made from bonded fibers that are taken out from pineapple leaves by farmers before they are cut up. These fibers go through an industrial process to make Piñatex. The materials can then be coloured, printed and treated to give it different thicknesses and types of patterns, including leather. The remaining substances created by production can be returned to the farmers to be used as fertilizer on their farms.
Piñatex is still in development, and Dr. Hijosa admits that it will take some time before it becomes market ready. To continue her research and hopefully turn Piñatex into a commercially sustainable alternative to animal leather, Dr. Hijosa is currently trying to secure more funding for Ananas Anam, of which she is the majority owner. She is also looking into other possible uses for Piñatex, including anti-bacterial wound bandages, as the material would allow air to circulate to an injury.
1. What can we know about “Piñatex” from the passage?| A．It has less impact on environment. |
| B．It is mostly made from animal leather. |
| C．It can replace all the fashionable materials. |
| D．It can solve the problem of animal extinction. |
| A．A series of problems. | B．A new kind of feature. |
| C．A variety of functions. | D．A tiny amount of fibers. |
| A．Process of making Piñatex. | B．Methods of applying Piñatex. |
| C．Advantages of using Piñatex. | D．Reasons for creating Piñatex. |
| A．To make Piñatex well-known soon. | B．To keep the research going smoothly. |
| C．To explore another scientific research. | D．To become the majority owner of firm. |
【推荐2】The days of dragging heavy luggage through an airport may be over thanks to a new robotic suitcase that follows its owner like a loyal dog.
Called Cowa Robot, the $650 carry-on suitcase moves on its own at a top speed of nearly 4.5mph and can find its way back to its owner within a distance of 164 feet.
To activate (启动) it, all the user has to do is press a hidden button in the handle and start walking — it will automatically keep up thanks to high-tech sensors in the case and a tracker bracelet (手环) worn by the traveler. High-tech sensors in the case and a bracelet make the Cowa Robot stays around 2 feet behind its owner.
Designed by a Shanghai-based startup, Cowa Robot was built with the latest in robotics to avoid objects in its path and actively look for its owner if it gets separated. The carry-on case has a built-in camera sensor to find its owner and it connects to a smartphone app via Bluetooth.
It follows at a 45-degree radius and can be programmed to follow a specific path, and it has a handle so it can be dragged when the airport is too crowded. The 10lb suitcase has four USB ports and a built-in battery that can charge a passenger’s mobile phone or tablet, and has a separate section for laptops or other devices. It is made from a sturdy German Bayer PC material to protect its contents and has a logo that lights up.
1. The suitcase will keep up with its owner because it is equipped with .| A．a handle and wheels | B．sensors and a tracker bracelet |
| C．a mobile phone and a tablet | D．a smartphone and a log |
| A．Inside an airport. | B．In a station. |
| C．In a crowded place. | D．In a noisy place. |
| A．A technology report. | B．A guidebook. |
| C．An announcement. | D．An advertisement. |
| A．A suitcase that travels fast. |
| B．A suitcase that looks like a dog. |
| C．A robotic suitcase that follows its owner. |
| D．A more expensive suitcase for travelers. |
【推荐3】Researchers from the Institute for Human Ma succeeded in training a 165-pound human-like robot, called Atlas, to move across narrow blocks using a system called LIDAR.
At first sight, a robot walking across several blocks may look like a simple thing but many actions that humans can do easily are difficult for robots as heavy as Atlas.
Our joints （关节） and a natural balance system allow us to deal with different obstacles （障碍）easily. Besides, our small, narrow feet allow us to move around tight obstacles easily, or step over obstacles, while supporting ourselves.
With atlas, LIDAR uses a pulsed laser（脉冲激光器）to measure the distance between objects and this is done by the machine so it can step correctly on the blocks. It also builds a map of the area Atlas's going to travel across, and then uses a‘ path planning algorithm（算法）’to determine each step it should take. The robot is able to balance with its human-like feet and joints which give it ranges（范围）of movement.
Presently Atlas is successful with about half of its tests, according to IHMC, but the company is already working to increase that rate by improving the robot's balance and the range of movement in its joints.
Perhaps the most interesting setting for using human-like robots is outer space. The team say that when humans explore other planets, robots like Atlas could go before that to develop a habitat suitable for human beings to live in. But researchers believe they would be immediately useful in dangerous emergency situation. Their ability to walk on different types of land could make them perfect for searching a fallen building or an earthquake for people trapped, where a wheeled robot would get stuck.
1. Why is Atlas' weight mentioned?| A．To show the success of the research. | B．To compare Atlas with other robots |
| C．To make readers interested in the topic. | D．To tell how Atlas walks independently. |
| A．LIDAR. | B．Its natural joints. |
| C．Narrow blocks. | D．Its weight. |
| A．It can easily walk across different obstacles. | B．It is still under improvement. |
| C．A pulsed laser decides each step it takes. | D．It helps create a map of outer space. |
| A．Save lives in dangerous situations. | B．Rebuild fallen houses |
| C．Forecast earthquake. | D．Explore possible living space. |
