While Google and others try to develop a a self driving car, toy maker Mattel has revealed a very different approach - letting a cricket drive.
就在谷歌和其它商家研發(fā)無(wú)人駕駛汽車(chē)的時(shí)候，玩具制造商美泰公司展現(xiàn)了它的獨(dú)特策略——讓蟋蟀開(kāi)車(chē)。

Mattel has released a new toy race car for children ages six and up, and it’s piloted by insects.
美泰公司發(fā)布了一款全新的賽車(chē)玩具，針對(duì)六歲及以上兒童，由昆蟲(chóng)駕駛。

The toy is a vehicle and a cricket habitat all in one, and uses sensors inside to turn based on the cricket’s motion. Crickets, however, are not included.
該玩具車(chē)集車(chē)子和蟋蟀棲身室于一體，通過(guò)內(nèi)置傳感器實(shí)現(xiàn)“蟋蟀活動(dòng)的方向即為車(chē)身行駛的方向”。

The Bug Racer is a battery operated vehicle in the shape of a winged insect, and it’s ‘powered by eleCrickety,’ according to the website.
網(wǎng)站上寫(xiě)道，“蟲(chóng)蟲(chóng)賽車(chē)”是一款需要安裝電池的飛蟲(chóng)形賽車(chē)，屬于“蟋蟀電動(dòng)車(chē)”。

The habitat can hold up to five crickets, and features four different driving modes.
這種賽車(chē)內(nèi)最多可以同時(shí)放置五只蟋蟀，駕駛模式分為四種。

Crickets will have to be purchased separately, and Mattel recommends medium to large crickets for best vehicle operation, around an inch in length.
蟋蟀需要單獨(dú)購(gòu)買(mǎi)。為了駕駛方便，美泰公司建議顧客購(gòu)買(mǎi)身長(zhǎng)在一英寸左右的中到大型蟋蟀。

Pressing the ‘Bug Button’ will allow the user to select the driving mode between the four options: Cricket in Charge, Drag Racing, Autodrive, and Light Show.
按下“昆蟲(chóng)鍵”就能選擇不同的駕駛模式：蟋蟀駕駛模式、直線競(jìng)速模式、自動(dòng)駕駛模式和燈光模式。

In Cricket in Charge mode, the cricket drives the car all by itself.
蟋蟀駕駛模式下，汽車(chē)完全由蟋蟀駕駛。

To get going, the cricket has to first be placed into the ‘control room,’ at the front of the race car, where the motion sensors will track its every move.
開(kāi)始前，先將蟋蟀放入賽車(chē)前端的“控制室”，這樣運(yùn)動(dòng)傳感器就可以追蹤到蟋蟀的每個(gè)動(dòng)作。

If the cricket crashes the vehicle into an obstacle, the Bug Racer will reverse and get back on track.
如果蟋蟀駕駛過(guò)程中撞到障礙物了，“蟲(chóng)蟲(chóng)賽車(chē)”會(huì)自動(dòng)倒車(chē)，返回正軌。

By pressing the bug button twice, the car will go into Drag Racing mode.
按兩次昆蟲(chóng)鍵，汽車(chē)就會(huì)進(jìn)入直線競(jìng)速模式。

This selection requires a second Bug Racer, so friends can watch their crickets duel it out in a race.
這個(gè)模式需要兩輛“蟲(chóng)蟲(chóng)賽車(chē)”，以便朋友之間觀看蟋蟀對(duì)決。

To win a Bug Racer race, the crickets have 10 seconds to drive the farthest distance in a straight line.
要想贏得比賽，蟋蟀要在十秒鐘內(nèi)走出最長(zhǎng)的直線距離。

The cricket-powered car is not just a toy, but a learning experience for the owners.
這款由蟋蟀驅(qū)動(dòng)的賽車(chē)不僅是一款玩具，對(duì)擁有者來(lái)說(shuō)也是一次學(xué)習(xí)經(jīng)歷。

In Light Show mode, lights in the car will illuminate the crickets inside for better observation, set to a musical tune.
燈光模式中，車(chē)內(nèi)的燈光會(huì)照亮蟋蟀，以便人們更好地觀察它們。此外還能播放音樂(lè)。

The website also explains the proper care for crickets, which generally have a lifespan between a few weeks and a few months.
網(wǎng)站上還說(shuō)明了蟋蟀的飼養(yǎng)方法，這種昆蟲(chóng)的生命周期通常只有幾周或幾個(gè)月。

Crickets get water from their food, so chopped pieces of fruit or vegetables, like apples or potatoes are a good source of nutrition, and don’t require added water.
蟋蟀從食物中汲取水分，所以切碎的水果和蔬菜（蘋(píng)果和土豆等）就是很好的養(yǎng)料，不需要額外加水。

For children (or adults) who want to observe the crickets but are too afraid to handle them, the Bug Racer has a solution for that, too.
有些兒童（或成年人）想仔細(xì)看看蟋蟀但卻不敢觸碰，針對(duì)這個(gè)問(wèn)題，這款玩具也有解決方案。

The ‘collection device,’ can be used to scoop up a cricket and deposit it into the control room or the habitat, without ever having to touch it.
賽車(chē)配有“收集裝置”，顧客可以用它鏟起蟋蟀，將其放在控制室或安置所，一下都不用碰。

Vocabulary
habitat：棲息地
scoop up：用鏟子取

英文來(lái)源：每日郵報(bào)
譯者：許楠楠
審校&編輯：杜娟