在很多地方，家家户户自备垃圾桶，然后在特定的时间把垃圾桶放到路边某个地方，由垃圾车把垃圾收走。现在有人发明了一个东西，普通垃圾桶装上以后就变成智能垃圾桶，能自己跑到路边再跑回来。
Making trash cans smart
by Rachael Lallensack
A major appeal of automation（自动化） in this era of rapidly developing tech is increasing accessibility and autonomy for disabled individuals. Scientists have created impressive exosuits（机甲） and robotic gloves for people with limited mobility（移动能力） and motor skills.
major /ˈmeɪdʒə(r)/ adj. 主要的
appeal /əˈpiːl/ n. 吸引力
era /ˈɪərə/ n. 时代
rapidly /ˈræpɪdli/ adv. 快速地、迅速地（由rapid加后缀-ly变成副词）
accessibility /əkˌsesəˈbɪləti/ n. 易得到、易使用
autonomy /ɔːˈtɒnəmi/ n. 自主
disabled /dɪˈseɪb(ə)ld/ adj. 残疾的
individual /ˌɪndɪˈvɪdʒuəl/ n. 个人
impressive /ɪmˈpresɪv/ adj. 令人赞叹的
robotic /rəʊˈbɒtɪk/ adj. 机器人的（由robot加后缀-ic变成形容词）
glove /ɡlʌv/ n. 手套
limited /ˈlɪmɪtɪd/ adj. 受限的
motor /ˈməʊtə(r)/ adj. 肌肉运动的、运动神经的
But for all the advantages of these flashy advancements, they remain pricey, complex and hard-to-use, while, as some critics point out, failing to address critical infrastructure upgrades, like ramps（斜坡） and accessible transportation, needed to improve disabled folks' daily lives.
flashy /ˈflæʃi/ adj. 闪耀的、酷炫的（由flash加后缀-y变成形容词）
advancement /ədˈvɑːnsmənt/ n. 发展、进步
pricey /ˈpraɪsi/ adj. 价格高的（由price加后缀-y变成形容词）
complex /ˈkɒmpleks/ adj. 复杂的
critic /ˈkrɪtɪk/ n. 批评者、评论者
address /əˈdres/ v. 着手处理
critical /ˈkrɪtɪk(ə)l/ adj. 关键性的
infrastructure /ˈɪnfrəˌstrʌktʃə(r)/ n. 基础设施
upgrade /ˈʌpɡreɪd/ n. 升级（由up和grade组成）
accessible /əkˈsesəb(ə)l/ adj. 易接近的、易到达的（由access加后缀-ible变成形容词）
transportation /ˌtrænspɔːˈteɪʃ(ə)n/ n. 交通
folks /fəʊks/ = people
Still, some companies are striking a balance between flash and function, finding small ways to use robotics to make everyday tasks less monumental（巨大的） for people who aren't able-bodied.
still /stɪl/ adv. 尽管如此
strike a balance 取得平衡、折中处理
flash /flæʃ/ n. 闪耀
function /ˈfʌŋkʃ(ə)n/ n. 功能
robotics /rəʊˈbɒtɪks/ n. 机器人学
everyday /ˈevrideɪ/ adj. 日常的
task /tɑːsk/ n. 任务
able-bodied 指没有残疾的
One such invention is the SmartCan: a motorized garbage can and app that takes the trash to the curb for you. SmartCan, the first product developed by the Massachusetts-based company Rezzi, just won Protolabs' Cool Idea award, which provides funding to "innovative thinkers" for building prototypes（原型） and accelerating the process of bringing inventions to market.
motorized /ˈməʊt(ə)raɪzd/ adj. 马达驱动的
can /kæn/ n. 圆柱形金属容器（比如易拉罐、垃圾桶等）
app /æp/ n. （手机上的）应用程序
trash /træʃ/ n. 垃圾
curb /kɜːb/ n. 马路牙子（通常把垃圾桶放在那里，然后由垃圾车把垃圾收走）
Massachusetts /ˌmæsəˈtʃuːsɪts/ n. 麻萨诸塞（美国东北部的州）
-based 后缀，意思是“总部在…的”
award /əˈwɔːd/ n. 奖、奖励
funding /ˈfʌndɪŋ/ n. 经费
innovative /ˈɪnəvətɪv/ adj. 创新的
thinker /ˈθɪŋkə(r)/ n. 思考者（由think加上表示人的后缀-er）
accelerate /əkˈseləreɪt/ v. 加速
process /ˈprəʊses/ n. 过程
SmartCan is essentially a pair of robotic wheels that are compatible with any municipal-issued trash receptacle（容器）. Those wheels were programmed to travel from a docking station at a person's residence to the curb. SmartCan is also synced（同步） to an app that can be scheduled for the time and day of your neighborhood's trash pickup.
essentially /ɪˈsenʃ(ə)li/ adv. 本质上、实质上（由essential加后缀-ly变成副词）
compatible /kəmˈpætəb(ə)l/ adj. 兼容的、能一起使用的
municipal /mjuːˈnɪsɪp(ə)l/ adj. 市政的
issue /ˈɪʃuː/ v. 正式发放
program /ˈprəʊɡræm/ v. 编程
docking station 停泊站（指家里平常放垃圾桶的地方，而且它还配有充电器）
residence /ˈrezɪd(ə)ns/ n. 住所
schedule /ˈʃedjuːl/ v. 为…安排时间
neighborhood /ˈneɪbəhʊd/ n. 住宅区
pickup /ˈpɪkʌp/ n. 拾取、取走（由pick和up组成）
"We developed SmartCan with multiple consumers in mind. One of those consumers was focused on disabled individuals and the autonomy we could return to them," says robotics engineer and Rezzi co-founder Andrew Murray. "However, we are working to develop a product that is appealing to the general household as well. We see SmartCan as a product that can be used by everyone who owns a trash can."
multiple /ˈmʌltɪp(ə)l/ adj. 多种的
consumer /kənˈsjuːmə(r)/ n. 消费者
focus on 专注于
co- 前缀，意思是共同
founder /ˈfaʊndə(r)/ n. 创办人（由found加上表示人的后缀-er）
appeal /əˈpiːl/ v. 有吸引力
household /ˈhaʊshəʊld/ n. 住户
"SmartCan now operates by the user 'teaching' it by taking it out once from its original docking station to the curb," says Murray. "Our new updated sensor（传感器） package allows for SmartCan to memorize this path, while also dynamically updating its position based on its surroundings."
operate /ˈɒp(ə)reɪt/ v. 运作
original /əˈrɪdʒ(ə)n(ə)l/ adj. 一开始的
update /ʌpˈdeɪt/ v. 更新
memorize /ˈmeməraɪz/ v. 记住（由memory加后缀-ize变成动词）
dynamically /daɪˈnæmɪk(ə)li/ adv. 动态地（由dynamic加后缀-ally变成副词）
based on 基于、根据
surroundings /səˈraʊndɪŋz/ n. 周围环境
The Rezzi team hopes to bring the trash can to market by the end of 2020. As of now, they are still in the development phase and haven't pinned down a price point.
phase /feɪz/ n. 阶段
pin down 敲定、确定
Some people raised concerns over durability（耐用度） – especially if the product lands within a higher price range. No one wants to spend $100 on a garbage can and have to care for it like an iPad.
raise /reɪz/ v. 使被考虑、提出（问题等）
concern /kənˈsɜːn/ n. 担心、担忧
Murray notes keeping the wheels tough is one of their biggest challenges. "In terms of durability, this is something that we are actively testing to ensure that we deliver a product that can endure the stress and environments that it is subjected to," he says.
tough /tʌf/ adj. 坚固的、不易损坏的
in terms of 就…而言
actively /ˈæktɪvli/ adv. 积极主动地（由active加后缀-ly变成副词）
ensure /ɪnˈʃʊə(r)/ v. 确保
deliver /dɪˈlɪvə(r)/ v. 交付
endure /ɪnˈdjʊə(r)/ v. 承受
subject to 使经受
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