字神帝國英語天地

曾經人們認為想要造出説明人行走的裝置非常困難。現在美國科學家造出一種小的可裝在普通鞋子上的裝置。這個新發明減輕肌肉的活動，使行走變得輕鬆。在研究和設計過程中，他們主要參考了哪些研究結果，這種裝置將會用在哪些方面呢？一起瀏覽今天的托福閱讀題材吧!

✿ 文章中的疑難字： 
boost  n. 推動 vi. 宣揚 vt. 促進 
exoskeleton n.外骨骼 
restore vt. 恢復；修復 
spring n. 春天 vt. 使跳起 
clutch n. 離合器；控制 vt. 抓住；緊握 
stroke .中風；輕撫 vt.輕撫；敲擊 
manufacturer n. 製造商

✿ Motor-Free Device Reduces Stress from Walking 讓行走更輕鬆的無動力裝備 
Devices that help people walk were once thought to be difficult, if not impossible, to design. Until recently, such a device required electricity from an external power supply. Now, American scientists have built a small, wearable addition to normal shoes. Their new invention eases the load on muscles in the leg and makes walking easier.

Steven Collins and Greg Sawicki are biomedical engineers. They both studied how human beings walk. They found that our ankles and calves perform motions similar to a spring joined to a clutch. In an automobile, a clutch is used to connect and disconnect a driving or driven part of an engine or other piece of equipment. The researchers found that the human body parts are able to both store and release energy, just like a spring.

Steven Collins works with Carnegie Mellon University in Pennsylvania. Greg Sawicki is with North Carolina State University. 
"We found in basic science experiments that that system, your calf and Achilles tendon, works a lot like a catapult. So, the muscle holds on to the tendon and your body actually stretches your Achilles tendon quite a bit and then stores the energy in the tissue and then it's given back to propel you forward in the world."

Mr. Sawicki says he and Mr. Collins designed a mechanical device that performs the same kind of energy ‘give-and-take' outside the body. Their new ankle exoskeleton is made of carbon fiber and metal. It connects to ordinary shoes and takes over part of the work of walking. Mr. Sawicki says the device reduces the amount of energy required for walking by as much as seven percent.

The unpowered ankle exoskeleton can help people walk farther with the same amount of energy. It also can restore normal movement for individuals who have trouble walking.

Mr. Sawicki says it takes only a few minutes for someone to get used to the ankle exoskeleton. He says the wearer quickly learns to use less muscle energy, letting the device do much of the work. 
"You really don't notice it until when you take it off. And when you take it off you realize that it was there and giving you the boost."

Mr. Sawicki says the device is mainly meant for people recovering from a surgery operation or a stroke. He adds that anyone who spends a lot of time walking, like hospital workers and policemen, could use the device.

There are no plans to make the ankle exoskeleton available to the general public. But the inventors say some manufacturers have expressed interest in the device.

✿ 長難句： 
1. So, the muscle holds on to the tendon and your body actually stretches your Achilles tendon quite a bit and then stores the energy in the tissue and then it's given back to propel you forward in the world.
肌肉附在跟腱上，當身體伸展開跟腱時，就把能量儲存到人體組織中，之後 再釋放出來推動人們向前行進。

2.He says( the wearer quickly learns to use less muscle energy), letting the device do much of the work.
他說，佩戴者很快能學會使用更少肌肉能量，而讓設備承擔很多工作。

3.He adds (that anyone who spends a lot of time walking, like hospital workers and policemen, could use the device).
他補充說，醫院工作人員和員警等長時間行走的人群也可以使用這種設備。

✿ 文章大意： 
曾經人們認為想要造出説明人行走的裝置非常困難.現在美國科學家造出一種小的 可帶在普通鞋子上的裝置。這個新發明減輕肌肉的活動，使行走變得輕鬆。

兩位生物醫學工程師一直在研究人類如何行走。他們發現，人類腳踝和小腿進行運動的原理與離合器上的彈簧類似。能夠像彈簧一樣儲存和釋放能量。

在基礎科學實驗中，小腿和跟腱這一系統就像彈射器一樣工作。肌肉附在跟腱上，當身體伸展開跟腱時，就把能量儲存到人體組織中，之後再釋放出來推動人們向前行進。根據這一原理，他們設計出一種機械裝置，能夠在體外進行同樣的能量儲存與釋放。

他們這種新的外骨腳踝是用碳纖維和金屬製成，可以附加到普通鞋子上並承擔部分行走工作。這種裝置可以讓行走所需能量降低 7%。這種無動力外骨腳踝可以幫助人們用相同能量走得更遠。它還能讓走路困難的人恢復正常運動。

這種設備主要用來説明人們從外科手術或中風中康復。目前尚無向大眾推廣這種裝備的計畫。但是設計者表示一些廠商已經對此產生了興趣。