Péter Fankhauser: Meet Rezero, the dancing ballbot

翻译人员: Chunxiang Qian 校对人员: Angelia King

Let me introduce to you Rezero.

请允许我介绍Rezero

This little fellow was developed

这个小家伙是

by a group of 10 undergraduate students

瑞士苏黎世联邦理工学院

at the Autonomous Systems Laboratory

自控系统实验室的10位本科生

at ETH-Zurich.

设计出来地

Our robot belongs to a family of robots

这个机器人属于机器人家族里

called Ballbots.

球星机器人

Instead of wheels, a Ballbot is balancing

球星机器人靠一个球体而不是轮子

and moving on one single ball.

来保持自身平衡和移动

The main characteristics of such a system is

这样一个系统的主要特征就是

that there's one sole contact point to the ground.

它只有一个点接触地面

This means that the robot

这意味着

is inherently unstable.

它一直处在不稳定状态

It's like when I am trying to stand

就象是我金鸡独立

on one foot.

一样

You might ask yourself, what's the usefulness

你也许好奇，一个连站都站不稳的机器人

of a robot that's unstable?

有什么用呢？

Now we'll explain that in a second.

稍后我回解释

Let me first explain how Rezero

首先先解释下它是如何

actually keeps his balance.

保持平衡的

Rezero keeps his balance by constantly

Rezero通过一个传感器不停地检测倾斜度

measuring his pitch angle with a sensor.

来维持自身平衡

He then counteracts and avoids toppling over

它将通过适量转动马达

by turning the motors appropriately.

来抵消倾斜的角度防止倾倒

This happens 160 times per second,

这个过程每秒要进行160次

and if anything fails in this process,

稍有差错

Rezero would immediately fall to the ground.

它就会立刻摔倒在地

Now to move and to balance,

要运动和平衡

Rezero needs to turn the ball.

Rezero就得转动球

The ball is driven by three special wheels

这个球是由三个特殊的轮子驱动

that allow Rezero to move into any direction

从而它能在各个方向上运动

and also move around his own axis

并同时能够

at the same time.

自转

Due to his instability, Rezero is always

由于其不稳定性，所以它必须一直处于动态

in motion. Now here's the trick.

妙就妙在这里

It's indeed exactly this instability that allows

正是这种不稳定性

a robot to move very [dynamically].

赋予了它动态性

Let's play a little.

让我们看看

You may have wondered what happens

如果我推它一下

if I give the robot a little push.

会有什么反应呢

In this mode, he's trying to maintain

这个模式下 它会尝试

his position.

回归原位

For the next demo, I'd like you to introduce

下一个演示 首先我想介绍我的同事

to my colleagues Michael, on the computer,

操作电脑的迈克尔

and Thomas who's helping me onstage.

和台上的托马斯

In the next mode, Rezero is passive,

下一个模式里Rezero是被动的

and we can move him around.

我们可以随意移动它

With almost no force I can control

我可以几乎不费力气地

his position and his velocity.

控制其位置和速度

I can also make him spin.

我也能让它旋转起来

In the next mode, we can get Rezero

下一个模式

to follow a person.

Rezero跟着人走

He's now keeping a constant distance to Thomas.

它现在与托马斯保持一段恒定距离

This works with a laser sensor

这是通过它顶端的传感器

that's mounted on top of Rezero.

来做到的

With the same method, we can also

类似的我们也能让它

get him to circle a person.

围着一个人转

We call this the orbiting mode.

我们称之为轨道模式

All right, thank you, Thomas.

谢谢，托马斯

(Applause)

（掌声）

Now, what's the use of this technology?

那么这个技术的使用价值是什么？

For now, it's an experiment, but let me

目前它还只是个试验

show you some possible future applications.

但是我可以展示一下它的应用前景

Rezero could be used in exhibitions or parks.

Rezero可以在展示会和公园里

With a screen it could inform people or show

通过屏幕给人们指引或

them around in a fun and entertaining way.

带着大家愉快地四处转转

In a hospital, this device could be used to

医院里这个设备可以成为

carry around medical equipment.

便携医疗设备

Due to the Ballbot system, it has a very small

因为是球形机器人系统

footprint and it's also easy to move around.

所以它占地小移动便捷

And of course, who wouldn't like

当然 谁不想

to take a ride on one of these.

骑着它遛遛弯儿呢

And these are more practical applications.

这些是最实用的几个功能

But there's also a certain beauty

但是这项技术本身

within this technology.

就带着美而来

(Music)

（音乐）

(Applause)

（鼓掌）

Thank you.

谢谢

(Applause)

（鼓掌）

Thank you.

谢谢