Module 9
	Transportation and travel: beyond human capabilities
Lesson 1

1.1.	Warm-up questions
a)	What images and ideas come to you when you hear the word ‘robot’?
b)	What do you know about robotics? Do you find it to be an interesting branch of engineering?
c)	How do you think robotics has already changed our lives?
d)	How important do you think robotics will be in the future?

1.2.	Components of an industrial robot
This diagram shows the components of an industrial robot. What do you think the functions of each component are?

Now read the following snippet and compare it to your answers. What have you missed? Have you provided any extra information not found in this text?
A manipulator is an arm-like mechanism that consists of a series of segments, which grasp and move objects with a number of degrees of freedom. It is what most of us think of when hearing the words “industrial robot”, but it’s only one part of it. First of all, in order to move, it has to get energy from somewhere. In smaller robots, the only power source may be an electrical motor. Huge hydraulic or pneumatic machines also require compressors. All the various machines required to operate an industrial robot are integrated and controlled by a single computer. Corresponding interface software is installed onto this computer that also has physical interfaces to connect to motors, compressors and sensors. Specialized robot software controls the flow of the positional data: first the manipulator receives commands, then it sends back special feedback signals that help the computer to make the movement of the manipulator more precise.

1.3.	Space robots
Industry is not the only field where robotics finds its application. Robots have been to space as well. 
Before you read the text, discuss the followings questions with your friends:
a)	How different are space robots and industrial robots?
b)	What extra challenges do space robots pose to engineers?
Now read the text and see how close you were to the truth.
What is a Mars Rover?
Let's keep it simple. The definition of a rover is an exploration vehicle designed to move across unknown environment. So Mars Rovers are just  mobile robots that can explore the Red Planet. 
Let's look at their common features.	to explore – исследовать 
	
Since they operate on Mars, these robots need to be autonomous. They cannot get a battery change, and cannot be teleoperated like robots or RC cars on Earth: the communication delay between Earth and Mars varies between 3 to 22 minutes due to the speed of light. That's why all the space rovers on Mars have solar panels to gather energy, and have to find their way by themselves. They still receive orders and special movement sequences from Earth daily, but they execute them on their own.
	tele- ['telɪ-] – приставка греческого происхождения, озн. “на расстоянии”
RC = remote-controlled
delay - задержка
sequence - последовательность	
The new Curiosity Rover does not use solar panels. Instead, it uses a nuclear battery that provides more energy night and day.	nuclear – атомный (об источнике энергии)	
They also need to drive on rocky, desert-like grounds. That's why they all have wheels (usually six) with a complex system of suspension. This system, called Rocker-bogie, enables the wheels to go up and down on rocks without the rover losing its balance. 	rocky - каменистый, скалистый
suspension - подвеска
	
They also have a communication system that allows them to transmit information to the Earth, either directly or via some relay station (usually an orbiter). That means they must be able to locate the Earth or the relay satellite from anywhere, at any time.
	relay station -ретрансляционная станция
orbiter -  a spacecraft in orbit or designed to go into orbit	
And like in the case of other space robots, all this must be done with minimum computing power. The computer and electronics hardware has to be radiation-proof, vibration-proof and anything-can-happen-proof. As a result, they run all their software on computers that are much less advanced than those currently used on Earth! 	-proof - защищённый от воздействия чего-л., устойчивый к чему-л.
	
All Mars rovers have scientific instruments and other equipment to analyze Mars rocks or take realistic pictures. The space rover is a complete mobile science laboratory in itself!	rock – горная порода	
1.3.2.	 *Read the text again to find the answers to the following questions:
1.	Can Mars rovers be teleoperated from Earth? Why?
2.	Can the delay of communication with the Earth be reduced? Why?
3.	Are rovers controlled from the Earth, or are they fully autonomous?
4.	What is the advantage of a nuclear battery over solar panels?
5.	What can the Rocker-bogie suspension do?  
6.	What does the rover’s hardware have to be protected from?
1.3.3.  *Explain the following terms using the verbs on the right.
robots and RC cars can be teleoperated
radiation-proof
vibration-proof 
anything-can-happen-proof 	to control
to protect

1.4.	Artificial intelligence
It is said that laziness drives all progress.  Humans created robots so that robots could do all the hard work. But then humans thought that programming and controlling robots is too much work again… and so they decided to invent artificial intelligence, also known as AI.
1.4.1.	Before you watch the video, discuss these questions with your friends:
a)	How advanced are today’s AI systems?
b)	Can they help industrial or space robots?
c)	Do you think AI systems could ever become dangerous?
1.4.2.	Make sure you know the following words and expressions:
a matter of time –  дело времени
caution –  предостережение, предупреждение
overriding [´əuvə'raɪdɪŋ] – важнейший; доминирующий  (overriding question)	survey – зд. опрос, анкетирование
to transcend [træn'send] – превосходить, превышать;  synonym: to exceed	

1.4.3.	Watch the video and answer the questions:
a)	What caution does the speaker make? 
b)	What could happen if robots transcended human intelligence?
c)	What is the overriding question that finishes the video?
d)	What does the final speaker compare humans to, in the (hypothetical) robot opinion?
1.4.4.	*Watch the video and mark the following statements T(True) or F(False). If a statement is false, make it true.
a)	The first computers were created in 1930s.
b)	Humans believe that robots will outsmart us. And it’s only a matter of time.
c)	Nick Bostrom conducted 5 surveys of 190 artificial intelligence researchers. 
d)	The outcome of the surveys concluded that robots will gain human-level intelligence with
a 10% probability by 2022
a 45% probability by 2040
a 95% probability by 2075
e)	If artificial intelligence were ever achieved, it would be a disaster.
f)	Superintelligence is defined as possessing logic and computing data.
g)	Robots cannot improve their own design by themselves as of now. 

1.5.	Grammar introduction
1.5.1.	Conditional sentences
Real conditionals
Zero conditionals (real or possible situations in the present)	
If/when-clause	Present Simple	Main clause	Present Simple	
	If/when I come early,		we go for a walk.	
First conditionals (possible situations in the future)	
If/when-clause	Present Simple	Main clause	Future Simple	
	If/when I come early,		we will go for a walk.	
Unreal conditionals
Second conditionals (unreal or imaginary situations in the present or in the future)	
If - clause	Past Simple	Main clause	Would + Infinitive 	
	If he had time,
Important: for “to be”, it’s correct to use “were” all the time		he would help us.	
Third conditionals (hypothetical or imaginary situations in the Past)	
If - clause	Past Perfect	Main clause	Would + Perfect Infinitive 
(have + V3 )	
	If he had had time,		he would have helped us.	

Synonyms for “IF”	
real condition	unreal condition	
PROVIDED (THAT)
ON CONDITION (THAT)
AS LONG AS
SO LONG AS	(JUST) SUPPOSE
SUPPOSING (THAT)
WHAT IF
IMAGINE	
On condition we get the money on time, we will start production on Monday.	Imagine we had no electricity in this house, how would you preserve our food?	

1.5.2.	Practice the real conditionals: each pair of sentences is made out of a “zero” and a “first” conditional. Open the brackets and mark each sentence as either “zero” or “first” conditional.
1)	a) If a power source provides no energy, the manipulator __________ (not to move); it’s a hard physical fact. b) If I turn on this switch, the manipulator __________ (move).
2)	a) When I __________ (to finish) studying this course on robotics, I will know so many things! b) Usually, when I finish a new course, I __________ (to try) to apply my new knowledge in practice.
3)	a) My boss is coming! If I __________ (to tell) him I broke the manipulator, he will be very angry. b) When our boss hears that we have a problem, he __________ (to get) extremely angry every time.
4)	a) If I get tired of studying, I usually__________ (to play) football . b) Tomorrow I have an exam, but I will still take breaks if I __________ (to get) tired of studying.
1.5.3.	Practice the first conditional: make up sentences using items from each column.
Example: If we take the train, we will escape traffic jams. If we drive, it will be cheaper.
Take the plane
Go by bus
Drive
Take the train	To be cheaper
To cost more
To reach our destination faster
To be able to stop whenever we wish
To escape traffic jams
To take a long time
To be able to change our route easily
To be very stressful	

1.5.4.	Practice the second conditional: say what you would do in these situations. Then ask your friends.
Example: If a taxi driver took me to a different hotel, I would refuse to pay. And you, Alex, what would you do if a taxi driver made a mistake like that?
a)	Your taxi driver takes you to a different hotel.
b)	Your hotel room has no heating or air conditioning.
c)	An animal bites you.
d)	You lock yourself out of the hotel room.
e)	Your bank card is stolen.
f)	You lose your papers.
g)	A local asks you for some money.
h)	Your bus breaks down in the middle of the night.
i)	You need to see a doctor but do not speak the local language.
1.5.5.	Practice the second conditional: use information from the text 1.3 to complete these sentences.
1.	If the communication delay between Earth and Mars could be reduced to a few seconds… 
2.	If the rover didn’t have a special system of suspension… 
3.	If the rover weren’t able to locate the Earth or the orbiter…
4.	If the rover’s hardware were not radiation-proof…
5.	If the rover didn’t have scientific instruments on board…