近年来，无人机技术发展很快。其中，大型可载人的无人机是一个热门的发展方向。经过多年研发，这类无人机即将投入使用，很可能明年在广州就能体验到。
Pilotless passenger drones could fly in China soon
by Arjun Kharpal
Chinese startup Ehang says its autonomous passenger drones could soon be flying in the skies of China's biggest cities, making the country one of the first in the world to roll out such a project.
startup /ˈstɑːtʌp/ n. 初创公司（由start和up组成）
autonomous /ɔːˈtɒnəməs/ adj. 自主的（这里指无人驾驶的）
drone /drəʊn/ n. 无人机
roll out 推出（新产品等）
project /ˈprɒdʒekt/ n. 项目
Ehang announced a pilot project with the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou, in which it plans to set up three or four regular flight routes for passengers to take, the company's co-founder Derrick Xiong said on Wednesday. That could take place either this year or in 2020, he added.
pilot /ˈpaɪlət/ adj. 试验性的
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）
If that happens, China would be the first country to carry out such a program where passengers are able to travel in autonomous flying vehicles. Other places like Dubai are also looking into it, carrying out tests, but have not announced programs that resemble Guangzhou's.
carry out 做、执行
program /ˈprəʊɡræm/ n. 计划、方案
vehicle /ˈviːɪk(ə)l/ n. 车辆
Dubai /duːˈbaɪ/ n. 迪拜
resemble /rɪˈzemb(ə)l/ v. 跟…很像、类似于
For companies pushing forth autonomous drones, their vision is a world full of flying taxis that are able to provide a new form of urban transport, particularly in areas where traffic is a problem.
vision /ˈvɪʒ(ə)n/ n. 构想
form /fɔːm/ n. 形式
urban /ˈɜːb(ə)n/ adj. 城市的
transport /ˈtrænspɔːt/ n. 交通
Before such flying vehicles can take off, however, there are a number of challenges, from needing new infrastructure to regulatory concerns, to convincing passengers that the technology is safe.
take off 起飞
infrastructure /ˈɪnfrəˌstrʌktʃə(r)/ n. 基础设施
regulatory /ˌreɡjuˈleɪt(ə)ri/ adj. 监管的
concern /kənˈsɜːn/ n. 担忧
convince /kənˈvɪns/ v. 说服
For a start, Ehang will be working with the authorities in Guangzhou to build up infrastructure like landing and take-off pads, according to Xiong.
for a start 首先
authorities /ɔːˈθɒrətiz/ n. 有关部门
build up 逐步建立、积累
landing /ˈlændɪŋ/ n. 着陆
pad /pæd/ n. 直升机起降场
The company was recently picked by the Civil Aviation Administration of China as the country's first company to start a pilot program for the development of autonomous passenger drones. It is also working with Chinese regulators to develop an updated set of regulations to account for this new technology, as existing laws are lacking on this front.
civil /ˈsɪv(ə)l/ adj. 民用的
aviation /ˌeɪvɪˈeɪʃ(ə)n/ n. 航空
administration /ədˌmɪnɪˈstreɪʃ(ə)n/ n. 管理局（Civil Aviation Administration就是民航总局）
regulator /ˈreɡjuleɪtə(r)/ n. 监管者、监管机构（由regulate加上表示人的后缀-or）
update /ʌpˈdeɪt/ v. 更新
regulation /ˌreɡjuˈleɪʃ(ə)n/ n. 规章制度（由regulate加后缀-ion变成名词）
account for 给出说明（这里指给出具体规定）
existing /ɪɡˈzɪstɪŋ/ adj. 现存的
lack /læk/ v. 缺少、缺乏
front /frʌnt/ n. 活动领域、方面
"We are seeing so much positive changes in the past several years," Xiong said. "When we started from 2016, nobody even knew what this is all about. But earlier this year we have this official approval from China Civil Aviation Administration basically allowing us to have this pilot program, because we are working together to build up the standard."
positive /ˈpɒzətɪv/ adj. 好的、正面的
official /əˈfɪʃ(ə)l/ adj. 官方的、正式的
approval /əˈpruːv(ə)l/ n. 批准（由approve加后缀-al变成名词）
basically /ˈbeɪsɪk(ə)li/ adv. 基本上
standard /ˈstændəd/ n. 标准、规范
But Ehang will also need to convince consumers that the flights will be completely safe. It claims that it has conducted over 2,000 test flights inside and outside of China in various weather conditions, and is confident of the safety standards.
consumer /kənˈsjuːmə(r)/ n. 消费者
claim /kleɪm/ v. 声称
conduct /kənˈdʌkt/ v. 实施
condition /kənˈdɪʃ(ə)n/ n. 状态、情况
confident /ˈkɒnfɪd(ə)nt/ adj. 有信心的
safety /ˈseɪfti/ n. 安全
"We are confident to say it's safe because you know from the original design of this aircraft – its safer than most traditional aircraft. Because we have 16 propellers（螺旋桨）, 16 motors and we have this super efficient safety power redundancy system, meaning even if you lost a motor or even several motors you're still fine," Xiong said. "Secondly, we have been working on this for many many years and we have enough testing data to prove this is a safe technology."
original /əˈrɪdʒ(ə)n(ə)l/ adj. 原创的
aircraft /ˈeəkrɑːft/ n. 飞行器
motor /ˈməʊtə(r)/ n. 马达、发动机
super /ˈsuːpə(r)/ adv. 特别、格外
efficient /ɪˈfɪʃ(ə)nt/ adj. 高效的、效果好的
redundancy /rɪˈdʌnd(ə)nsi/ n. 冗余
secondly /ˈsek(ə)ndli/ adv. 其次（由second加后缀-ly变成副词）
data /ˈdeɪtə/ n. 数据
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