Japan plans automated cargo transport system to relieve shortage of drivers and cut emissions
cargo, relieve ,cut emissions
1. Cargo
2. Relieve
3. Cut emissions
|
Posted November 30, 2024
Category: Technology/Innovations
Listening
17:11
relieve
[ ri-leev ]
17:12
to ease or reduce the pain
17:09
strip
17:17
or peel
or remove
17:23
trial
[ trahy-uhl ]
17:27
linear
[ lin-ee-er ]
17:30
Hello! It was a pleasure to see you! I enjoyed talking to you and our topic were fun and interesting. You participated well in the conversation through sharing your thoughts and experiences. Please check for the feedback below.
Personalized FEEDBACK
VOCABULARY
You were able to understand the words in the conversation.
relieve
-to ease or reduce the pain
package
-a parcel or delivery product in a box
strip
-remove or peel
FLUENCY
Can speak and share ideas.
PRONUNCIATION
Can pronounce words correct.
relieve
[ ri-leev ]
trial
[ trahy-uhl ]
linear
[ lin-ee-er ]
Overall, you did well in our lesson. Please continue to practice English. I hope to see you again!
Unlocking Word Meanings
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
- automated / ˈɔ təˌmeɪ tɪd / (adj.) – designed to be operated or performed by machines or computers instead of people
Example:
The factory speeds up production through the new automated system.
- conveyor belt / kənˈveɪ ər bɛlt / (n.) – a device that has a long moving strip of material that carries items from one place to another
Example:
The factory uses a conveyor belt to move products from one station to another quickly.
この装置の名称
説明 これは、工場や空港、物流センターなどで使用される装置で、物を連続的に運搬するための仕組みです。長いベルトがモーターなどで動き、物品を目的地まで運びます。
strip
Strip の意味と解釈 1. 一般的な意味
2. 特定の文脈での意味
3. 特定の用途
まとめ Strip は文脈によって「細長い形状のもの」を指したり、「取り除く」という動作を表したりします。依頼の文脈では「帯状の素材」として理解できます。 |
- infrastructure / ˈɪn frəˌstrʌk tʃər / (n.) – the basic systems and structures that a country or organization needs to work or operate properly
Example:
The city invested heavily in its infrastructure, building new roads, bridges, and public transit systems.
invested, transit
1. Invested
2. Transit
|
- run on (something) / ˈrʌn ˌɒn / (phrasal v.) – to use a specific type of power supply or source to work or function
Example:
The whole factory is running on solar power, making it environmentally friendly.
- forklift / ˈfɔrkˌlɪft / (n.) – a small vehicle with a piece of equipment in front that is used for lifting and moving heavy objects
Example:
The new factory worker is learning how to drive a forklift.
Article
Read the text below.
Japan is planning to build an automated cargo transport corridor between Tokyo and Osaka, dubbed a “conveyor belt road” by the government, to make up for a shortage of truck drivers. The amount of funding for the project is not yet set. But it’s seen as one key way to help the country cope with soaring deliveries.
corridor , dubbed , key way, cope with , soaring
1. Corridor
2. Dubbed
3. Key way
4. Cope with
5. Soaring
|
A computer graphics video made by the government shows big, wheeled boxes moving along a three-lane corridor, also called an “auto flow road,” in the middle of a big highway. A trial system is due to start test runs in 2027 or early 2028, aiming for full operations by the mid-2030s.
wheeled , three-lane, in the middle of, is due to
1. Wheeled
2. Three-lane
3. In the middle of
4. Is due to
|
“We need to be innovative with the way we approach roads,” said Yuri Endo, a senior deputy director overseeing the effort at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.
deputy , overseeing the effort , the Ministry of Land
1. Deputy
2. Overseeing the effort
3. The Ministry of Land
|
Apart from making up for a shrinking labor force and the need to reduce workloads for drivers, the system also will help cut carbon emissions, she said.
Apart from, making up for, a shrinking labor force
1. Apart from
2. Making up for
3. A shrinking labor force
|
“The key concept of the auto flow-road is to create dedicated spaces within the road network for logistics, utilizing a 24-hour automated and unmanned transportation system,” Endo said.
dedicated spaces , unmanned
1. Dedicated spaces
2. Unmanned
|
The plan may sound like a solution that would only work in relatively low-crime, densely populated societies like Japan, not sprawling nations like the U.S. But similar ideas are being considered in Switzerland and Great Britain. The plan in Switzerland involves an underground pathway, while the one being planned in London will be a fully automated system running on low-cost linear motors.
low-crime, densely populated societies , sprawling nations ,pathway
1. Low-crime
2. Densely populated societies
3. Sprawling nations
4. Pathway
|
In Japan, loading will be automated, using forklifts, and coordinated with airports, railways and ports.
The boxes measure 180 centimeters in height, or nearly six feet, and are 110 centimeters, or 3.6 feet, by 110 centimeters in width and length, about the size of a big closet.
loading , coordinated with,
1. Loading
2. Coordinated with
|
The system, which is also intended for business deliveries, may be expanded to other routes if all goes well. Human drivers may still have to do last-mile deliveries to people’s doors, although driverless technology may be used in the future.
routes , last-mile,
1. Routes
2. Last-mile
|
This article was provided by The Associated Press.
Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion A
Cargo transportation is important for many industries. What do you think about the automated cargo transport system? How would this affect industries in your country? Discuss.
Does your community need an automated cargo system? Why or why not? If something should be automated in your community, what would it be? Discuss.
Discussion B
Building the automated transport corridor will include road changes as it will run in the middle of the highway. How do you feel about making highway changes just to have an automated transport corridor? Do you think people would like the idea of changes that would happen to roads? Why or why not? Discuss.
What should the government do to ensure that the changes to be done on the highways are understood and supported by the public? Discuss.
Category: Technology/Innovations