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Most of the time, people are not happy to see cockroaches.
大多数时候，人们不乐意看到蟑螂。
The insect is known around the world as a pest – a creature that causes problems for people.
这种昆虫在世界各地都被认为是一种害虫——一种给人类带来麻烦的生物。
However, the cockroach is a useful insect for research scientists.
然而，蟑螂对研究科学家来说是一种有用的昆虫。
And they could one day be used to help find survivors after major earthquakes.
将来有一天，人们可能会用它们来帮助寻找大地震后的幸存者。
Scientists in Japan have been working on a system that they can attach to the insects that permits remote control.
日本科学家一直在研究一种可以安装在这种昆虫身上的系统，以便远程控制。
Kenjiro Fukuda leads a team at the Thin-Film Device Laboratory at Riken, a company that does scientific research.
福田健二郎领导日本理化学研究所薄膜设备实验室的一个团队，该公司从事科学研究。
The team created a thin solar cell they can attach to the body of a cockroach.
该团队发明了一种可以附在蟑螂身上的薄膜太阳能电池。
It is thinner than a human hair.
它比人的头发还细。
The cell permits the cockroach to move freely but it sends signals to organs that control the insect’s legs.
这种电池可以使蟑螂自由移动，但它会向控制蟑螂腿的器官发送信号。
The scientists believe they can control the cockroaches from a long distance.
科学家认为他们可以远距离控制蟑螂。
This means they will be able to send the insects into a disaster area, such as a building destroyed by an earthquake.
这意味着他们将能够把这种昆虫送到灾区，比如被地震摧毁的建筑物。
The small insects can get into places that humans and even rescue robots cannot reach.
这种小昆虫可以进入人类甚至救援机器人无法到达的地方。
With the right equipment, they could be used to help find survivors stuck under broken pieces of buildings.
有了合适的设备，人们可以用它们来帮助寻找被困在建筑物废墟下的幸存者。
The work advances a project done by scientists in Singapore.
这个项目比新加坡科学家完成的一个项目要更先进。
Fukoda said the problem with rescue robots is their batteries run out quickly.
福田表示，救援机器人的问题是它们的电池很快就会耗尽。
The insect, however, moves on its own.
然而，这种昆虫会自己移动。
The battery only sends a signal that makes the cockroach move, so it lasts much longer.
电池只需发出让蟑螂移动的信号，所以它的续航时间会更长。
“The electricity required is nowhere near as much” as what is required for rescue robots, Fukoda said.
福田说，“其所需的电量远远不及”救援机器人所需的电量。
The research team is using hissing cockroaches from Madagascar.
该研究小组使用了来自马达加斯加的发出嘶嘶声的蟑螂。
Those cockroaches are big enough to carry the equipment and strong enough to get back on their feet if they fall over.
这些蟑螂足够大，可以携带这些设备，而且也足够强壮，如果它们摔倒了，可以重新站起来。
Although the research is going well so far, the technology is not fully ready for use in the real world.
尽管到目前为止研究进展顺利，但这项技术还没有完全准备好在现实世界中使用。
For example, in a recent demonstration, the scientists sent signals to a cockroach that caused it to move to the left.
例如，在最近的一次演示中，科学家向一只蟑螂发送信号，使其向左移动。
However, the cockroach moved in circles when they sent a signal telling it to move right.
然而，当他们发出信号告诉蟑螂向右移动时，蟑螂却绕着圈移动。
The next step is to see if there are small cameras and sensors that can be placed on the cockroach’s back.
下一步看看是否可以在蟑螂背上安装小型摄像头和传感器。
The team created the first test backpack using material purchased from an electronics market in Tokyo for only $35.
该团队使用了从东京电子市场购买的材料制作了第一个测试背包，成本只有35美元。
Even if the thin solar cell is not able to be used in rescue missions, Fukoda said there could be a number of future uses.
福田表示，即使这种薄膜太阳能电池不能用于救援任务，未来也可能会有很多用途。
For example, the cells could be used in clothing to measure a person’s health.
例如，这种电池可以用在衣服上来测量人的健康状况。
The cells could also be added to an umbrella.
这种电池也可以被安装在雨伞上。
Used in this way, the cells could help generate enough power to charge a mobile phone.
以这种方式使用，这种电池可以产生足够的电量来为手机充电。
I’m Dan Friedell.
丹·弗里德尔为您播报。
译文为可可英语翻译，未经授权请勿转载！
