虫虫玩具车：蟋蟀来当驾驶员

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发无人驾驶汽车的时候，玩具制造商美泰公司展现了它的独特策略——让蟋蟀开车。

Mattel has released a new toy race car for children ages six and up, and it’s piloted by insects.

美泰公司发布了一款全新的赛车玩具，针对六岁及以上儿童，由昆虫驾驶。

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.

该玩具车集车子和蟋蟀栖身室于一体，通过内置传感器实现“蟋蟀活动的方向即为车身行驶的方向”。

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.

网站上写道，“虫虫赛车”是一款需要安装电池的飞虫形赛车，属于“蟋蟀电动车”。

The habitat can hold up to five crickets, and features four different driving modes.

这种赛车内最多可以同时放置五只蟋蟀，驾驶模式分为四种。

Crickets will have to be purchased separately, and Mattel recommends medium to large crickets for best vehicle operation, around an inch in length.

蟋蟀需要单独购买。为了驾驶方便，美泰公司建议顾客购买身长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“昆虫键”就能选择不同的驾驶模式：蟋蟀驾驶模式、直线竞速模式、自动驾驶模式和灯光模式。

In Cricket in Charge mode, the cricket drives the car all by itself.

蟋蟀驾驶模式下，汽车完全由蟋蟀驾驶。

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.

开始前，先将蟋蟀放入赛车前端的“控制室”，这样运动传感器就可以追踪到蟋蟀的每个动作。

If the cricket crashes the vehicle into an obstacle, the Bug Racer will reverse and get back on track.

如果蟋蟀驾驶过程中撞到障碍物了，“虫虫赛车”会自动倒车，返回正轨。

By pressing the bug button twice, the car will go into Drag Racing mode.

按两次昆虫键，汽车就会进入直线竞速模式。

This selection requires a second Bug Racer, so friends can watch their crickets duel it out in a race.

这个模式需要两辆“虫虫赛车”，以便朋友之间观看蟋蟀对决。

To win a Bug Racer race, the crickets have 10 seconds to drive the farthest distance in a straight line.

要想赢得比赛，蟋蟀要在十秒钟内走出最长的直线距离。

The cricket-powered car is not just a toy, but a learning experience for the owners.

这款由蟋蟀驱动的赛车不仅是一款玩具，对拥有者来说也是一次学习经历。

In Light Show mode, lights in the car will illuminate the crickets inside for better observation, set to a musical tune.

灯光模式中，车内的灯光会照亮蟋蟀，以便人们更好地观察它们。此外还能播放音乐。

The website also explains the proper care for crickets, which generally have a lifespan between a few weeks and a few months.

网站上还说明了蟋蟀的饲养方法，这种昆虫的生命周期通常只有几周或几个月。

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.

蟋蟀从食物中汲取水分，所以切碎的水果和蔬菜（苹果和土豆等）就是很好的养料，不需要额外加水。

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.

有些儿童（或成年人）想仔细看看蟋蟀但却不敢触碰，针对这个问题，这款玩具也有解决方案。

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.

赛车配有“收集装置”，顾客可以用它铲起蟋蟀，将其放在控制室或安置所，一下都不用碰。

Vocabulary

habitat：栖息地

scoop up：用铲子取