VOA慢速英语: 法国农民使用无人机来检测他们的作物

French Farmers Use Drones to Examine Their Crops
法国农民使用无人机检测作物
It used to be mostly the military that used small, unpiloted aircraft, called "drones." The little planes were very costly. But as they have dropped in price more people have begun to use them. Rescue workers and farmers are among the new users.
过去军事上使用一种小型的、无人驾驶的“无人机”。这种无人机很昂贵。但是随着价格的下降，更多的人开始使用无人机，搜救人员和农民是无人机新用户的群体。
A company in France is using drones to help farmers examine their crops and limit the amount of fertilizer they use.
法国一家公司使用无人机帮助农民检测他们的作物，限制肥料使用的数量。
The fast rate of development of computer technology, image sensing devices, satellite navigation and smartphones has led to lower-priced drones. Researchers and developers have learned how to build smaller and less-costly drones sought by individuals, companies and governments.
计算机技术、图像传感设备、卫星导航和智能手机的迅速发展，这些因素导致无人机价格的下降。研究者和开发者已经掌握如何制造满足个人、公司和政府需求的更小型、成本更低的无人机。
Moviemakers are using drones to film from the sky. Historians use them when they explore ancient buildings. Rescue workers use them to look for people. And now farmers are using them to monitor their crops.
电影制片人使用无人机实现空中拍摄。历史学家使用无人机探测古建筑。搜救人员靠无人机进行搜救。现在农民运用无人机来监控他们的作物。
Romain Faroux is a French businessman who starts companies. His father was a farmer. He believed drones could help farmers. He helped create a company that developed a small drone that could be controlled by people on the ground. They called it "Agridrone." It uses a special "optical sensor" to examine crops.
罗梅因·法鲁克是法国一个商人，开着一家公司。他的父亲是农民，他相信无人机能够帮助农户。他创办了一家公司，用来研发能被地面人员控制的小型无人机。他们称之为“农业无人机”，它采用了一种特殊的“光学传感器”来检测作物。
He says the technology used is similar to that used by smartphones -- except it has wings. He says the industrialization of electronic parts for smartphones and tablets lets them get the technology -- including GPS -- at a very low price.
他表示无人机采用的技术跟智能手机的技术相似——除了无人机有双翅膀之外。他表示智能手机和平板电脑的电子部件的产业化生产让他们以一种低廉的价格获得包括GPS定位系统的技术。
A computer program directs the drone to fly over the crops. The sensor on the drone records four different-colored "bands" of sunlight that are reflected off the crops.
电脑程序操控着无人机在作物上空飞行，无人机上的传感器记录阳光照射，作物反应的四种不同颜色状态。
Jean-Baptiste Bruggeman is a farmer. He says the drone flies over his crops at different times of the season. He says this provides a lot of information about his crops.
吉恩·巴普提斯特·布鲁格曼是个农民。他说在不同时节的不同时间，无人机飞越作物上空，向他提供了很多关于作物的信息。
He says the drone pictures show him the exact amount of fertilizer the crops need. He says it also shows exactly where the fertilizer is needed. Some areas of a field may need more than others.
无人机展示的图像告诉他作物所需肥料的精确数量，还能让他清楚哪一部分需要化肥，一些区域也许比其他区域更需要化肥。
As a result, Mr. Bruggeman says there is reduced nitrogen from the fertilizer after the harvest. This helps nature.
布鲁格曼表示收获后的肥料中的含氮量减少，有助于土地修养生息。
Romain Faroux says farmers use information gathered by the Agridrone to place fertilizer only in areas where it was needed. This saves money and reduces pollution. Before they used the drones, farmers would put the same amount of fertilizer everywhere.
罗梅因·法鲁克说农民根据无人机检测、收集的信息来向需要的区域投放化肥。这样既节省钱也会减少污染。使用无人机之前，农户会给所有的土地撒化肥。
Drones also save time because farmers can examine up to three hectares in about a minute.
无人机可以节省时间，这样农户用一分钟左右就可以检测三公顷的作物。
I'm Marsha James.
我是玛莎·詹姆斯。
VOA Science and Technology Correspondent George Pubic reported this story from Washington. Christopher Cruise wrote it for VOA Learning English. Marsha James read and produced the program. Caty Weaver edited the story.
美国之音科技部记者乔治·普比克华盛顿报道。克里斯托弗·克鲁斯编写，玛莎·詹姆斯朗读，凯蒂·威弗尔编辑。
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Words in This Story
navigation – n. the act, activity or process of finding the way to get to a place when you are traveling in a ship, airplane or car, or walking or hiking
smartphone – n. a mobile phone that lets users connect to the internet
monitor – v. to watch, observe, listen to or check (something) for a special purpose over a period of time
optical sensor – n. a device that detects or senses heat, light, sound or motion and then reacts to it in a particular way
GPS – n. Global Positioning System; a radio system that uses signals from satellites to tell you where you are and to give you directions to other places
band – n. a strip of something that is different from what is around it
Are drones being used in your country? If so, for what? Are farmers using drones in your country? Do you support the use of drones? Do you have any concerns about their use? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the comments section.