荷蘭科學家發明智能自行車 可提出危險警報

The Netherlands on Monday launched its first-ever “intelligent bicycle”, fitted with an array of electronic devices to help bring down the high accident rate among elderly cyclists in the bicycle-mad country.

荷蘭在週一推出了其國內首款“智能自行車”。這種“智能自行車”裝有一系列的電子設備，能幫助降低事故發生率。在一些酷愛騎行自行車的國家當中，老年騎自行車者事故頻發。

Developed for the government by the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), the intelligent bicycle prototype runs on electricity, and sports a forward-looking radar mounted below the handlebars and a camera in the rear mudguard.

“智能自行車”是由荷蘭政府委託荷蘭組織應用科學研究（TNO）開發的。這款原型機依靠電力運行，車把下方裝有前視雷達，後方擋泥板上裝有相機。

A commercial-available bicycle is expected to be on the market in the next two years and should sell for between 1,700 euros ($1,800) to 3,200 euros per bicycle.

這種自行車將有望在未來兩年推出市場，每輛售價在1700歐元（合1800美元）至3200歐元之間。

The forward and rearward detection devices on the test bike are linked through an onboard computer with a vibrating warning system installed in the bicycle’s saddle and handlebars to alert cyclists to impending danger.

測試車的前置和後置檢測裝備通過機載計算機與振動警報系統相連接。內置在自行車車座和車把中的振動警報系統，能夠提醒騎自行車者將可能發生的危險。

The saddle vibrates when other cyclists approach from behind, while the handlebars do the same when obstacles appear ahead.

當後方有其他騎自行車者靠近時，車座便會振動起來；而當前方有障礙物時，車把就會振動起來。

It also has a cradle in which a computer tablet can be inserted, to wirelessly connect and “talk” to the bicycle through a dedicated application.

它還有一個置物架，能夠置入平板電腦。該平板電腦能無線上網，以及通過專門應用程序與自行車“對話”。

The mounted tablet also flashes a bright signal if there is an approaching obstacle in the bicycle’s path, like a lamppost, or if another cyclist comes up from behind intending to pass.

當道路上有障礙物，如燈柱，或者當其他騎自行車者從後方出現並打算超過時，這個平板電腦便會發出明亮的閃爍信號。

“Accidents often happen when cyclists look behind them or get a fright when they are passed at high speed,” said Maurice Kwakkernaat, one of TNO’s research scientists involved in the project.

一位參與該項目的荷蘭組織應用科學研究（TNO）的人員，莫里斯·科瓦勒納（Maurice Kwakkernaat ）說道：“事故通常發生在當騎自行車者朝後看或者當被別人快速超車嚇到之時。”

“The onboard system utilities technology already at work in the automotive industry,” he said.

“機載系統實用技術已經在汽車行業得到廣泛應用。”

Kwakkernaat said the devices would be useful for cyclists propelled along by the bicycle’s electrical motor, which can reach a top speed of 25 kph (16 mph).

科瓦勒納表示，電機的時速能達到25千米每小時（16英里每小時），這些裝置設備的作用將會很大。

“More and more elderly people are using a bicycle, not only for short distances, but also for longer distances,” Dutch Environment and Infrastructure Minister Melanie Schultz van Haegen told AFP.

荷蘭基礎設施與環境部（Dutch Environment and Infrastructure）部長梅拉妮·舒爾茨·凡·哈根（Melanie Schultz van Haegen）對法新社（AFP）記者表示：“越來越多的老年人開始騎自行車，短途和長途的都有。”

“This type of bicycle is truly needed in the Netherlands because it will help us down bring the number of elderly people who are injured every year and allow them to continue enjoy cycling,” she said.

“這種自行車在荷蘭是非常有需求的。每年，老年人受傷數量衆多。而它將有助於降低老年受傷人數，並使他們依舊能夠享受自行車騎行的樂趣。”

In the Netherlands, bicycles outnumber the population of 17 million by at least one million and there are some 25,000 kms of bicycle path in the country.

荷蘭的人口數量爲1700萬，而自行車數量比人口數量多出至少一百萬。荷蘭國內的自行車車道總長大約有兩萬五千米。

Those statistics are set to grow as more and more people take to two-wheeled transport, leading to congestion and an increased risk of injury.

隨着越來越多的人騎行自行車，自行車數量也將不斷增長。而越多人騎自行車，也就增加了交通阻塞和人員受傷的風險。

Last year, 184 cyclists died in the country, of which 124, or 67.0 percent, were older than 65, according to the Centrals Statistics Office (CBS). The year before, 200 cyclists died, the overwhelming majority of victims also being elderly.

根據荷蘭中央統計辦公室（the Centrals Statistics Office）的數據顯示：去年，荷蘭有184位騎自行車者死亡，而其中124人（佔67%）是超過65歲的老年人。前年死亡人數爲200位，其中絕大多數也是老年人。

The current prototype weighs a hefty 25 kilogrammes (55 pounds) but researchers are working on making the on-board systems smaller.

目前這種標準自行車重達25千克（55磅），研究人員正在努力把機載系統做得更小。