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Science & Technology
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Logistics
物流
Autonomous deliveries
自動送貨
Sidewalk robots are already busy delivering groceries
人行道上的自動送貨機器人正在忙著運送食品雜貨
ALTHOUGH IT IS a business not many are aware of, sidewalk robots are set to become an industry with annual sales of $1bn within a decade, reckons IDTechEx, a British firm of analysts.
英國分析公司IDTechEx估計，盡管沒有多少人留意人行道上的自動送貨機器人這個行業(yè)，但在十年內(nèi)，它將成為一個年銷售額為10億美元的行業(yè)。
These four- or six-wheeled autonomous machines, usually the size of a suitcase, are already delivering groceries and other goods in America, China and Europe.
這些四輪或六輪的自動送貨機，通常有行李箱大小，已經(jīng)在美國、中國和歐洲運送食品雜貨和其他商品了。
That puts them ahead of many driverless cars, vans and lorries being developed.
這使得他們領(lǐng)先于許多正在研發(fā)的無人駕駛汽車、面包車和卡車。
Those bigger vehicles are held back not by technology but regulation, says Zehao Li of IDTechEx.
IDTechEx的李澤浩表示，這些大型汽車不是受技術(shù)的限制，而是受監(jiān)管的限制。
This means having a "safety driver" on board ready to take over if there is a problem, which is hardly labour-saving.
這意味著車上要有一名“安全司機”，隨時準備在出現(xiàn)問題時接手，這很難節(jié)省勞動力。
For these larger contraptions regulators want to see safety systems thoroughly proved.
對于這些更大的汽車裝置，監(jiān)管方希望相關(guān)公司能夠證明系統(tǒng)絕對安全。
But there are legal hurdles, too.
但也存在法律障礙。
In January Britain's Law Commission, which reviews legislation, recommended that it should not be the person in the driver's seat who faces prosecution if a vehicle in autonomous mode crashes, but the manufacturer or body that sought approval for its use.
今年1月，負責(zé)審查立法的英國法律委員會建議，如果自動駕駛模式下的車輛發(fā)生碰撞，將面臨起訴的不應(yīng)是駕駛座上的人，而應(yīng)是尋求批準其使用的制造商或機構(gòu)。
Meanwhile, sidewalk robots are getting on with the job.
與此同時，人行道上的自動送貨機器人也開始工作了。
Among them, Starship Technologies, based in San Francisco, reckons it has already clocked up more than 2.5m deliveries with bots in a number of cities, university campuses and business parks in Europe and America.
其中，總部位于舊金山的星際科技公司估計，在歐洲、美國的一些城市、大學(xué)校園和商業(yè)園區(qū)，該公司已經(jīng)交付了250多萬輛機器人。
Amazon is carrying out trials with a similar sort of machine it calls Scout.
亞馬遜正在對一種類似的機器人進行試驗，該機器被稱為Scout。
Kiwibot, a Colombian startup, is making sidewalk deliveries in California.
哥倫比亞初創(chuàng)公司Kiwibot正在加州人行道上送貨。
Typically, these robots carry a few bags of groceries using a variety of sensors, including cameras, radar and GPS to navigate and avoid obstacles and people.
通常，這些機器人攜帶幾袋食品雜貨，使用各種傳感器，包括攝像頭、雷達和GPS來導(dǎo)航和避開障礙物和人群。
Their progress can be monitored on a phone app, which also unlocks them for goods to be retrieved.
送貨過程可以通過手機應(yīng)用程序監(jiān)控，該應(yīng)用程序還可以解鎖他們，以便取回貨物。
As they are small, move slowly (Starship's bots might reach a heady 6kph) and are "telemonitored" by people in a control room who can take over, authorities seem more willing to give them a green light.
由于它們體積小，移動緩慢（星際公司的機器人最大速度可能達到6公里/小時），并且是由控制室中人“遠程監(jiān)控”（也可以接管），監(jiān)管方似乎更愿意給它們開綠燈。
Such robots are also becoming more autonomous.
這樣的機器人有更多的自主權(quán)。
In January Serve Robotics, another San Franciscan firm whose backers include Uber, a ride-hailing giant, said it had deployed a new sidewalk bot with "level 4" autonomy, which means it can operate without telemonitoring in some predesignated areas.
今年1月，舊金山另一家公司Serve Robotics（其投資者包括打車巨頭優(yōu)步）表示，該公司已經(jīng)部署了一個新的人行道自動送貨機器人，具有“4級”自主權(quán)，這意味著它可以在一些預(yù)先指定的區(qū)域無需遠程監(jiān)控即可運行。
Robotic versions which operate on roads but have no driver’s cab are also appearing.
在道路上運行但沒有駕駛室的送貨機器人也在出現(xiàn)。
Nuro, a Silicon Valley firm, makes one about the size of a small car that can carry 24 bags of groceries. It has chilled and heated compartments for food and drinks.
硅谷的一家公司Nuro，制造了一輛小型汽車大小的送貨機器人，可以裝載24袋食品雜貨。它有供食物和飲料使用的冷凍和加熱隔間。
Udelv, also a Californian firm, is developing a larger type called Transporter to operate at highway speeds.
Udelv也是加州的一家公司，它正在開發(fā)一種更大的送貨機器人叫做Transporter，可以高速運行。
Being much further along the road in earning their keep, these delivery bots are helping to pave the way for the time when bigger autonomous vehicles can join them.
這類送貨機器人在掙錢方面走得更遠，為更大的自動駕駛汽車加入他們鋪平了道路。
