Flying Cars: High in the sky
飞车：云巅之上
Firms such as E-volo, Lilium and Uber are re-imagining the daily commute.
E-volo， Lilium以及Uber这些公司正在重新畅想未来的日常交通。
“You may smile, but it will come,” said Henry Ford in 1940, predicting the arrival of a machine that was part-automobile and part-aeroplane.
1940年亨利·福特预测了一种半汽车半飞机新型机器的诞生同时说道：“你可以对此嗤之以鼻，但它终有一天会到来的。”
For decades flying cars have obsessed technologists but eluded their mastery.
几十年来飞行汽车令技术专家们魂牵梦萦，但他们始终未能掌握这项技术。
Finally there is reason to believe.
终于，我们有相信的理由了。
Several firms have offered hope that flying people in small pods for short trips might become a reality in the next decade.
一些公司对几十年内人们乘坐豆荚型的飞行工具短途旅游成为现实寄予了希望。
These are not cars, as most are not fit to drive on land, but rather small vehicles, which can rise and land vertically, like quiet helicopters.
这些飞行工具不是汽车，而是小型的交通工具，因为它们大多数不适合在地面上行进，但能够像直升机那样平稳地垂直升空和降落。
A prototype of a small electric plane that is capable of flying up to 300 kilometres per hour, made by Lilium, a German startup, completed a successful test over Bavaria on April 20th.
德国的一家新兴公司Lilium研制出一架最高时速可达300公里的小型电动飞机原型，并于4月20日在巴伐利亚试飞成功。
Lilium is starting work on a five-seat vehicle and hopes to offer a ride-hailing service.
Lilium着手制作一种五座交通工具，同时希望它能提供叫车服务。
Another German company, e-volo, has been testing a flying vehicle for several years.
另一家德国公司e-volo几年来一直在测试一种飞行器。
It recently showed off the second version of its electric Volocopter, which could be certified for flight as soon as next year.
e-volo最近展示了第二代纯电动直升机，很可能明年得到飞行许可。
There are at least a dozen firms experimenting with making small flying vehicles in different guises, including Airbus, an aerospace giant, in partnership with Italdesign Giugiaro, a division of Volkswagen, a carmaker.
至少有十二家公司对不同外形的小型飞行工具进行实验，，这其中包括航空业的巨头——空客，该公司和大众分支意大利汽车设计室Giugiaro (汽车制造公司)进行合作。
Many plan to have a certified pilot in command at the beginning and then move on to an autonomous set-up when regulations allow.
也有很多公司让持证件的飞行员待命，然后在条例允许之后开办有自主权的组织。
Motorcycle-type vehicles, which you sit astride, are also in the works.
摩托车型——两腿分开坐的交通工具也在开发进程中。
No matter which manufacturer is quickest to gain velocity, Uber, a ride-hailing firm, aims to be at the centre of things.
无论哪家制造商最先让飞行器达到预期的速度，叫车公司优步的目标是成为该产业的核心。
On April 25th it held an event in Dallas to announce its plan to offer a service where people can hail an electric “vertical takeoff and landing” vehicle and ride it quickly to destinations that would otherwise take hours in heavy traffic.
4月25日优步在达拉斯举办发布会，公布其新服务计划——使人们能叫到可以垂直起飞和降落的交通工具，避开几小时拥挤不堪的交通，快速地达到目的地。
Uber does not want to build these aircraft or landing pads itself, just as it does not own its own cars.
优步并不打算自己制造飞行器或者发射台，就像它没有汽车的所有权一样。
Instead, it plans to collaborate with other companies.
相反，优步计划与其他公司合作。
But Jeff Holden, Uber's chief product officer, does not exclude the possibility that the firm may at the outset own some aircraft, which he estimates will cost around $1m each.
但是其首席产品官Jeff Holden说不排除公司会在一开始拥有部分飞机的可能，他估计每架的成本大约是100万美元。
The firm plans to have a prototype of its service ready by 2020.
优步计划在2020年之前推出这项服务。
It will launch it first in Dallas and in Dubai, both cities where the authorities have deep aviation expertise and where people commute long distances.
首先它会登陆达拉斯和迪拜，这两个城市有着优秀的航空专家和需要长距离出行的乘客。
The firm rather optimistically promises that the cost per aerial mile for passengers will be roughly that of its low-cost car service, UberX.
优步相当乐观地承诺，其每英里航空收费将大体上和价格相对低廉的汽车服务UberX差不多。
There is plenty for manufacturers and services like Uber to overcome beyond gravity.
对于制造商和优步之类的服务商来说除了重力还要攻克许多难关。
For battery-powered models, range is limited and the charging rate remains slow.
比如，能供电的电池型号范围有限而且充电速度慢。
Manufacturers will need to ensure that vehicles can take off and land quietly, if this new form of transport is to stand a chance in cities.
如果要在城市里占有一席之地，制造商要保证这种车辆能够安静地起飞降落。
How to oversee and license the new aircraft, which are subject to much tougher rules than cars, will be a subject of intense debate among rule-makers, who tend to move slowly and are just getting to grips with drones.
如何监管和授权这种新型飞机，其规则要比汽车严格得多，这些问题将成为规则制定者激烈探讨的主题，而他们往往行动迟缓，并且才刚开始着手应对无人机。
Drivers of flying vehicles are also likely to require a pilot's licence, albeit perhaps a simplified “sports” licence.
飞行车辆的驾驶人员可能也需要飞行执照，虽然可能就是个简化的“运动”证件。
The journey ahead will be a long one.
总之，这一切都还有很长的路要走。
重点词组：
1.showed off 展示;炫耀
例句:She had made Helen a dress which showed off her tiny waist.
她给海伦做了件很显她纤细腰身的连衣裙。
2.move on 前进
例句:She ran this shop for ten years before deciding to move on to fresh challenges.
在决定涉足新的领域时，她经营这家商店已有10年。
3.As soon as 一...就
例句:As soon as we found this out, we closed the ward.
我们一发现此事就关闭了病房。
4.in partnership with 和...合作
例句:The Alliance also supports and works in partnership with civil society groups on specific initiatives.
联盟还支持民间社会的工作，并与他们一起发起具体倡议。
5.aims to 计划;打算
例句:They aim to clear every dealer from the street.
他们打算把街上所有的毒品贩子都清走。
6.take off 起飞;脱下
例句:We eventually took off at 11 o'clock and arrived in Venice at 1.30.
我们终于在11点起飞，1:30到达威尼斯。
7.tend to 趋向
例句:We tend to think in absolutes.
我们思考问题倾向于绝对化。
8.stand a chance 有希望;有可能
例句:It's monstrous, you won't stand a chance!
这太可怕了，你不会有希望的!
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