VOA慢速英语--关于自动驾驶汽车的不同看法

Different Ideas About Self-Driving Cars

Many businesses are considering different plans to make automotive artificial intelligence profitable.

The founders¹ of Argo AI – along with automaker partners Ford² Motor Company and Volkswagen AG - believe their plan will work. It is different from those of some of their more highly valued rivals.

Argo AI wants to get customers that will use robot vehicles for many purposes, including transporting goods and people.

Background and business plan

Bryan Salesky, the leader of Argo AI, started developing automated³ vehicles 12 years ago, in a competition.

The self-driving systems developer is now at the center of a multibillion-dollar investment. Argo AI and its partners think that self-driving vehicle technology must be good for more than just replacing taxi drivers.

"I hate the word robotaxi," Salesky said in a rare interview at Argo's Pittsburgh headquarters. "There are so many applications and businesses to be built."

A profit-sharing deal is at the heart of The Argo business plan. Ford and VW will pay Argo fees based on the distance traveled by vehicles equipped with Argo's technology. Details of that deal have not been reported until now, notes the Reuters news agency.

Among the possible uses of Argo's technology: Long-distance trucking for e-commerce.

Argo's plan is to provide self-driving systems that Ford will launch in late 2021 in three U.S. cities.

VW leaders told Reuters they expect to follow in 2022 or 2023 with a VW-designed all-electric vehicle.

Competition

Some rivals are not persuaded that Argo has any lead.

Glen De Vos is chief technology officer of Aptiv, which recently bought self-driving startups nuTonomy and Ottomatika.

He noted⁴ Aptiv's partnership⁵ with the ride-sharing company Lyft. He said the companies are testing self-driving vehicles, and added that Argo "doesn't have the component⁶ engineering capability⁷ that Aptiv has."

Investors⁸ so far see less value in Argo than companies whose work centers on robotaxis. For example, the company Waymo is valued at $105 billion. Another, Cruise, is valued at $19 billion.

Argo's value is estimated at $7.25 billion following Volkswagen's $1.9 billion investment.

Words in This Story

application – n. the use of an idea, method, law, etc., in a particular situation or for a particular purpose

component – n. one of the parts of something (such as a system or mixture): an important piece of something

e-commerce -- n. activities that relate to the buying and selling of goods and services over the Internet

1 founders   

n.创始人( founder的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• He was one of the founders of the university's medical faculty. 他是该大学医学院的创建人之一。 来自辞典例句
• The founders of our religion made this a cornerstone of morality. 我们宗教的创始人把这看作是道德的基石。 来自辞典例句

2 Ford   

n.浅滩，水浅可涉处；v.涉水，涉过

参考例句：

• They were guarding the bridge,so we forded the river.他们驻守在那座桥上，所以我们只能涉水过河。
• If you decide to ford a stream,be extremely careful.如果已决定要涉过小溪，必须极度小心。

3 automated   

a.自动化的

参考例句：

• The entire manufacturing process has been automated. 整个生产过程已自动化。
• Automated Highway System (AHS) is recently regarded as one subsystem of Intelligent Transport System (ITS). 近年来自动公路系统(Automated Highway System,AHS)，作为智能运输系统的子系统之一越来越受到重视。

4 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

5 partnership   

n.合作关系，伙伴关系

参考例句：

• The company has gone into partnership with Swiss Bank Corporation.这家公司已经和瑞士银行公司建立合作关系。
• Martin has taken him into general partnership in his company.马丁已让他成为公司的普通合伙人。

6 component   

n.组成部分，成分，元件；adj.组成的，合成的

参考例句：

• Each component is carefully checked before assembly.每个零件在装配前都经过仔细检查。
• Blade and handle are the component parts of a knife.刀身和刀柄是一把刀的组成部分。

7 capability   

n.能力；才能；(pl)可发展的能力或特性等

参考例句：

• She has the capability to become a very fine actress.她有潜力成为杰出演员。
• Organizing a whole department is beyond his capability.组织整个部门是他能力以外的事。

8 investors   

n.投资者，出资者( investor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子
• a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会