美国使用无人机预测岩石滑坡，观察野生动物

美国使用无人机预测岩石滑坡，观察野生动物

In the western American state of Utah, drone aircraft are flying near avalanches to watch snow crashing down from mountains.

在美国西部的犹他州，无人机在雪崩区附近飞行，以监视从山上坠落的雪。

Drones are also being used in the southeastern United States. For example, in North Carolina, they are searching for endangered birds and the places they use to raise their young.

无人机在美国东南部也有应用，比如，在卡罗莱纳州北部，无人机用来寻找濒危的鸟类及它们哺育后代的地方。

Public transportation agencies are using drones in nearly every state. That information comes the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, or AASHTO.

公共交通机构几乎在每个州都使用无人机，这一信息来自于美国国家公路和交通官员协会，又称AASHTO。

In a report released this month, the nonprofit group found a large increase in the use of drones over the past few years. The aircraft are also called unmanned aerial vehicles.

在本月发布的一份报告中，非营利组织发现，过去几年无人机的使用率大大增加，无人机也被叫做无人驾驶飞行器。

The association’s survey found that governments as well as private citizens have accepted the technology. They include individuals who love flying model aircraft.

该组织的调查发现，政府和个人都接受了这项技术，包括喜欢无人机模型的人。

In 2016, the group found that no state transportation agency was using drones every day. Now, 36 states employ certified drone pilots.

2016年，该组织发现，国际交通机构并不是每天都使用无人机，现在，36个州雇佣了专业的无人机飞行员。

Jim Tymon is the executive director of the association. “You’ve seen the cost of drones come down significantly, and the capabilities that come along with some drones increase significantly as well,” he said.

吉姆·廷蒙是该协会的执行董事，他说：“可以看到无人机方面的成本大大下降，而且无人机的也性能大大改善。”

Jared Esselman is the director of aeronautics at the Utah Department of Transportation. He says that drones are valuable for all kinds of work.

杰瑞德·埃塞尔曼是犹他州交通部航空学主任，他说，无人机在所有种类的工作中都有很大价值。

“We can predict not only snow slides, but mudslides and water runoff as the snow melts,” Esselman said. “Drones are a perfect tool for any job that is dangerous or dirty.”

“我们不仅可以预测雪崩，还可以预测雪融时的泥石流，径流。”埃塞尔曼说，“无人机是任何危险或肮脏的工作中的完美工具。”

In North Carolina, drones are finding the nests of endangered species like the red-cockaded woodpecker, reports Basil Yap. He is the unmanned aerial systems program manager at the state’s transportation department.

据Basil Yap报道，在北卡罗来纳州，无人机发现了濒危物种红嘴啄木鸟的巢穴。他是国家交通部的无人驾驶航空系统项目经理。

People once used helicopters or all-terrain vehicles to inspect for evidence of woodpeckers before building new projects. But the drones can do the job quicker with fewer problems, Yap said.

新项目建立之前，人们曾用直升机或全地形车去监测啄木鸟的行踪，但是无人机可以更快，更精准地完成这项工作。Yap说。

A number of states are beginning to explore how to create laws to control a flood of private drone traffic that is likely to come in the future. In Ohio, the state government is working on an air-traffic control system, called SkyVision, which would enable drones to recognize and avoid other aircraft in flight.

很多州都开始探索怎样立法控制将来可能发生的私人无人机洪流阻塞交通的问题。在俄亥俄州，州政府致力于建立空中交通管制系统-SkyVision，该系统可以帮助无人机在空中识别并避让其他飞行器。

I'm John Russell.

约翰·罗素报道。
 

Words in This Story

avalanche – n. a large amount of snow and ice or of dirt and rocks that slides suddenly down the side of a mountain

survey – n. a study or investigation

certified – adj. having met the official requirements that are needed to do a particular type of work

nest – n. a place made or chosen by a bird for sheltering its young