Should I stay or should I go? An LED device(设备) for driverless cars aims to give pedestrians(行人) at a crossing the power to communicate with cars, signalling for them to stop or drive on.
Blink, created by researchers at the Royal College of Arts and Imperial College London, turns the awkward dance of eye contact and hand gestures that happens when a car slows down while someone is waiting to cross the road into something driverless cars can understand.
Blink combines an organic light display with the windscreen(挡风玻璃) and windows of a car and uses light signals to show pedestrians when the car is aware of their presence. If the car detects a pedestrian, a figure lights up.
If a pedestrian raises a hand as a stop sign, the figure turns green, directing the pedestrian to cross, and the car is prevented from moving forward. If they place a hand out to the side to signal for the car to go forward, the figure turns red and the car continues.
But George Filip at the University of Nottingham, UK, isn’t certain it is a good idea to give pedestrians control over driverless cars. He says cities could end up crowded because pedestrians keep stopping cars.
“Producers should wait until the novelty of driverless cars has worn off before creating car－pedestrian communications systems，” he says. “We need to learn how people actually communicate with autonomous cars.”
The idea is to help people feel more comfortable around driverless cars, says Blink co－creator Raunaq Bose. “It effectively gives pedestrians the car－stopping powers of lollipop men and women(帮助学童过马路的交通安全员)．”
The team hasn’t yet tested the device on a driverless car, but Bose says several automotive companies have expressed interest.
【解题导语】 本文是一篇说明文。文章介绍了一种新型的可以辅助行人和无人驾驶车进行交流的设备。
1．What do we know about Blink?
A．It’s a new car brand.
B．It’s a driving－aid system.
C．It’s a car－producing company.
D．It’s already widely known to the public.
B 解析：细节理解题。由第二、三段的内容可知，Blink可以辅助行人和车辆进行交流，是一种辅助驾驶系统。
2．What will a driverless car do when a pedestrian puts a hand to the side?
A．Pick up speed.
B．Slow down.
C．Come to a stop.
D．Keep moving.
D 解析：细节理解题。由第四段中的If they place a hand out to the side to signal for the car to go forward, the figure turns red and the car continues.可知，行人手放旁边的话意味着车辆可以继续前行。
3．What’s George Filip’s attitude towards Blink?
A．Negative.
B．Curious.
C．Uninterested.
D．Appreciative.
A 解析：观点态度题。由第五段中George Filip提到的这种设备可能造成交通拥堵可知，他对此持反对态度。
4．What can be inferred from what Bose said?
A．There’s a demand for the device.
B．The device has an uncertain future.
C．The device is perfect for driverless cars.
D．Several companies have begun to use the device.
A 解析：推理判断题。由最后一段中的Bose says several automotive companies have expressed interest可知，这种设备有市场需求。
