Unit 10

Text A. THE ROLLS-ROYCE.

1. Read and translate the text.

When you first glimpse the Rolls-Royce, you will be seeing the latest refinements in technology and elegance for the world's most luxurious motor car.

The new sleek appearance has been achieved through the subtlest of changes to the classic grill design. Still made by hand and stamped with the craftsman's own insignia. The new proportions combined with a reshaped air dam have streamlined the front, while the integrated bumpers of colour coded sills continue the smooth line around the car to the rear.

By adding new and larger 16-inch road wheels with specially designed lower profile tyres there is a noticeable improvement in road holding, responsiveness, handling and above all comfort. Moreover, the new wheels contribute аррreciably to the new profile in the quest for higher standards of luxury and comfort for driver and passenger alike.

The new interior presents some thoughtful innovations. An adjustable tilt steering wheel column, linked to the seat position memory, swings up to allow easy entry and exit when the door is opened or when the key is removed from the ignition.

The redesigned centre armrest now houses the CD multichanger as well as the telephone for convenience and accessibility. The new centre console sweeps up to the restyled fascia with the veneered panels revealing the cigar lighter and the new in-car entertainment controls which have been regrouped for simple operation.

A new four by thirty Watt speaker system with increased dynamic capacity and low listening volume gives improved presence and clarity. The new centre console also provides independent air-conditioning to the rear compartment through separate volume and directional controls.

A new seat design has improved comfort and support, while providing increased head room. All carefully handcrafted in the finest leather and burr walnut veneer.

Ever since 1904 when Henry Royce first produced his astonishing advance in smoother, quieter and more reliable motoring, the marque of Rolls-Royce has always held the pursuit of excellence in engineering, constantly seeking refinements.

The increased power of the 6.75 litre Rolls-Royce V8 engine gives confidence, comfort and safety in equal measure. Still assembled by hand to tolerances of ten thousandths of an inch, this finely balanced engine harnesses the latest electronic management systems.

So many Rolls-Royce engineering advances have contributed to safer driving throughout the history of motoring. Safety derived through immense power in reserve for safer overtaking. Side impact protection bars pioneered by Rolls-Royce in 1981.

The most sensitive adaptive ride control that monitors the acceleration, braking and cornering style every one hundredth of a second to ensure the car is kept smooth and level.

Full-sized driver and passenger airbags neatly housed in the immaculate interior have long been standard. The commanding driving position supported by the new ergonomically designed seats contributes to the safety of the driver.

This combination of safety and elegance, the fusion of advanced technology with traditional craftsmanship is the very latest development in the pursuit of motoring excellence.

To ride in the new Rolls-Royce is to experience the ultimate in luxury motoring. To own the new Rolls-Royce is to be counted amongst the most successful and deserving people in the world.

Active vocabulary

adjustable tilt steering wheel column − регулируемая по высоте наклона руле­вая колонка

appointment − техническая деталь, устройство, деталь конструкции

burr walnut veneer − древесный шпон под жженный орех

car is kept smooth and level − обеспечивается ровное и плавное движение автомобиля

carefully handcrafted − тщательно собранный вручную

centre armrest − центральный подлокотник

commanding driving position − удобное для управления место водителя

contribute − добавлять, делать вклад

controls − устройства контроля и управления

counted (to be counted) − считаться, быть в числе

deserve — заслуживать

engineering advances − инженерные достижения

economically designed − спроектированы с учетом эргономических требо­ваний

experience the ultimate in luxury motoring − ощущать (на себе) самые передовые достижения в области первоклассного автомобилестроения

four by thirty Watt speaker system − система с колонками 4x30 Ватт

full-sized airbags − полноразмерные подушки безопасности

glimpse − быстрый взгляд; бросать взгляд, замечать

in-car — внутрисалонный

in-car entertainment controls − кнопки (клавиши и т.п.) управления развлекательными системами автомобиля (музыка, радио и т.п.)

insignia − клеймо мастера, клеймо (личное клеймо работника), знак

motoring excellence − превосходное качество изготовления автомобилей

multichanger − мультичейнджер

neatly housed − аккуратно размещен

overtaking — разгон (обгон)

pursuit − стремление

rear compartment − заднее отделение, отделение для задних сидений

redesign − перепланировать

refinement − совершенствование

regroup − перегруппировать

regrouped for simpler operation − перегруппированы для простоты управле­ния

reshaped air dam − перепланированный нижний воздушный спойлер (воздухорассекатель)

responsiveness − послушность (управления автомобилем)

restyled fascia − перепланированная приборная панель

reveal — обнаруживать

reveal the cigar lighter − обнаружить, скрывать, прикуриватель

road holding − удерживание дороги, сцепление с дорогой

seat position memory − память на позиционирование сиденья

side impact protection bar − стойка защиты от бокового удара

simple operation — простое действие

sleek appearance − обтекаемый, заглаженный внешний вид (кузова авто­мобиля)

specially designed lower profile tyres − специально разработанные низкопро­фильные шины

still assembled by hand − собираемый вручную до настоящего времени

sweep the board − сорвать все ставки (в игре, соревнованиях и т.п.)

sweep up — плавно повышаться

s wing up – подниматься

2. Answer the following questions:

1) What are the latest refinements in the body design of the new Rolls-Royce?

2) What noticeable improvement do new road wheels give?

3) How does an adjustable tilt steering wheel function?

4) How were the centre armrest and the fascia redesigned?

5) What kind of in-саг entertainment system has the new Rolls-Royce?

6) What is used to ensure the car is kept smooth and level?

3. Match the following English words and Russian equivalents:

перепланировать быстрый взгляд устройства контроля

и управления

мулитименеджер техническая деталь совершенствование

повышаться клеймо мастера разгон (обгон)

обнаруживать послушность стремление

внурисалонный добавлять считаться

перегруппировать подниматься заслуживать

sleek appearance carefully handcrafted

road holding engineering advances

centre armrest full-sized airbags

restyled fascia motoring excellence

simple operation neatly housed

rear compartment economically designed

4. Translate the following words and combinations:

a reshaped air dam, specially designed lower profile tyres, adjustable tilt steering wheel column, seat position memory, revealing the cigar lighter, in. car entertainment controls, regrouped for simpler operation, four by thirty Watt speaker system, burr walnut veneer, still assembled by hand, side impact protection bars, the car is kept smooth and level, commanding driving position the very latest development, to experience the ultimate in luxury motoring

5. Fill in the words from the text and translate the sentences.

The new proportions combined with a reshaped air dam have _________ the front of the new Rolls-Royce.

The new sleek appearance has been_________ through the subtlest of changes to the classic grill design.

The__________ bumpers of colour coded sills continue the smooth line around the car to the rear.

The most _________ adaptive ride control monitors the acceleration, braking and cornering style.

To own the new Rolls-Royce is to be _________ amongst the most successful and deserving people in the world.

The ________ centre armrest now houses the CD multichanger as well as the telephone for convenience and _________.

Text B. SENSORS AND THE AUTOMOBILE.

1. Read the text and retell it.

In the 1960s, vehicles were equipped with oil pressure, fuel level, and temperature coolant sensors. Their outputs were connected to analogue gauges or " idiot" lights. As we entered the 1970s and emissions became a driving factor, more sensors were added to help control the powertrain. With the addition of the catalytic converter, electronic ignition, and fuel injection came a number of sensors required to help maintain tight air/fuel control and exhaust emissions. In 1980s, safety became a factor with antilock brakes and airbags.

Today sensors are everywhere. In the powertrain area, sensors are used to measure the temperature and pressure of most of the fluids (air temperature, manifold absolute pressure, coolant temperature, and fuel injection pressure). Speed and position sensors are connected to most moving parts (vehicle speed, throttle position, camshaft, crankshaft, transmission shift position, EGR valve position, and transmission speed sensors). Others measure knock, engine load, engine misfire, and oxygen level in the exhaust. Climate control requires the use of various sensors in the air conditioning system to determine refrigerant pressure and temperature and interior air temperature.

Sensors have been added to the interior to determine seat position. With the addition of antilock braking and suspension control a number of sensors have been added to determine wheel speed, ride height, and tyre pressure. As airbags were added for frontal and side impact, more crash sensors and accelerometers were added to control airbag deployment. As the concern for front seat passengers has grown so has the need for sensors to determine if the passenger airbag needs to deploy. Occupant position sensors, passenger weight sensors, and others have been developed to ensure the correct deployment of the front passenger airbag. Other sensors are being added as car manufacturers add side impact bags, roof airbags, and sophisticated side impact head protection airbags.

As engineers have moved beyond antilock braking and traction control into electronic stability control, more sensors are required. Yaw rate, steering wheel angle, and collision avoidance sensors, such as radar sensors or sensors to determine the proximity of other vehicles, will be added. Additional sensors to help control or determine lateral acceleration, speed of each wheel, and engine torque will be needed.

Control of the vehicle's braking system is tied into the stability control system. The first oil pressure and coolant temperature sensors were set up to work independently of each other. In fact some of them were nothing more than switches that were activated at certain maximum or minimum levels. As more sensors become electronic or digital, they are interconnected and their output is used for more than one vehicle system. Thus sensor manufacturers are searching for better ways to design and manufacture sensors.

2. Answer the following questions:

1) What sensors were vehicles in the 1960s equipped with?

2) What sensors appeared in 1970s and in 1980s?

3) What sensors are used today?

4) What are the role and functions of sensors?

3. Fill in the words from the text and translate the sentences.

As we entered the 1970s and emissions became a ________ factor, more _________ were added to help control the powertrain.

With the addition of the catalytic converter, electronic ___________, and fuel _________ came a number of sensors required to help maintain tight air/fuel control and ________ emissions.

In 1980s, _________ became a factor with antilock brakes and airbags.

Other sensors are being added as car manufacturers add side __________ bags, roof airbags, and _________ side impact head _________ airbags.

UNIT 11

Text A. GENEVA MOTOR SHOW.

1. Read and translate the text.

The annual Geneva Motor Show is one of the automotive delights of the year. It unfailingly presents a heady mix of aesthetic and technological exotica that no other international motor show can match, and this year was no excep­tion. The span of newly unveiled production models, big-name concepts, and small-name one-offs was quite extraordinary.

The biggest surprise at Geneva was the new Morgan Aero 8. Morgan is a very small but long established (1909) British specialist producer building sports cars that look as if they were styled decades ago - which, more or less, they were. Morgan buyers are invariably aficionados prepared to order a car from the com­pany and wait several years for delivery. Although Morgan has developed its cars to meet international safety and emissions legislation, new models in the fullest sense have not been on the agenda - until now.

The Aero 8 retains much of the Morgan style signature, with flowing fenders and broad running boards; in this respect it is as retro as retro can be. However, in some senses the remarkably individualistic Aero 8 is thoroughly Y2K. De­scribed as a " completely new" model, it has an aluminum chassis and a combi­nation of thermo-plastically and hand-formed aluminum body panels. Morgan describes it as an AIV (aluminum-intensive vehicle).

Engineers developed the car over a four-year period, focusing on weight sav­ing, performance, ride, and handling - with lightweight components and materi­als central to the car's design. The Aero 8 uses " the latest aluminum material" which has been specially designed for use in vehicle manufacture. Sections of the aluminum are bonded using a high performance adhesive and riveted for secondary strength. This combination provides excellent torsional rigidity, claims the company.

The Aero 8 uses a 4.4-L BMW engine producing 210 kW (281 hp) at 5500 rpm. A six-speed gearbox with self-adjusting clutch is fitted. The engine's cra­dle is made from aluminum extrusions. Use of aluminum extrusions for suspen­sion and braking systems contributes to keeping the car's mass to about 1000 kg. Suspension is all-independent.

At the front, each side gets a long cantilever upper arm with lower wishbone and inboard Eibach coil springs over a Koni shock absorber. The Aero 8 has an H-frame. Designed in in-house using CATIA software, the car has a Cd of 0.39, a figure which shows little variance with the folding roof erect or lowered.

The shape, which develops negative lift front and rear, was developed in the wind tunnel.

Active vocabulary

adhere — прилипать, сцепляться

adherence — прилипание, сцепление

adherent — вязкий, клейкий, плотно прилегающий

adhesion — слипание, спайка, прилипание, сцепление, клейкость

adhesive — адгезия, соединение, клей; адгезивный, клейкий, липкий

aesthetic — эстетический

agenda — повестка дня

although — хотя, тем не менее

bond — соединение

chassis — шасси

clutch — сцепление, захват, зажатие; схватывать

coil spring — пружинная рессора

cradle — колыбель, посадочное место, опора (двигателя)

delight — восхищение; восхищать

delivery — поставка, доставка

design — проект, конструкция, дизайн; проектировать, конструировать

establish — устанавливать, учреждать < •

establish — основывать, учреждать, устанавливать

establishment — учреждение, основание, основа

except — за исключением

exception— исключение (за исключением)

extraordinary — чрезвычайный

extrusion — выдавленный профиль (детали), экструзия, выдавливание

fail — терпеть неудачу, отказывать (о работе устройств и т.п.)

failing — недостаток

failhtgly — ошибочно

failure — сбой, отказ в работе (устройства), неудача

fender — крыло (автомобиля)

figure — рисунок, цифра; обозначать

flowing fender — обтекающее крыло (крыло, переходящее в подножку авто­мобиля)

folding roof —складная крыша (у кабриолета)

front and rear— нос и корма (автомобиля)

heady — стремительный

invariably — неизменно

keep — сохранять

lift— подъем; поднимать

lightweight components— облегченные детали (компоненты, изготовленные из облегченных материалов)

long established — давно установившийся

look as if they were styled decades ago — выглядеть в соответствии со стилем ретро (со стилем, свойственным автомобилям, изготовленным десяти­летия назад)

match — подходить, соответствовать; соответствие

meet international safety and emissions legislations — соответствовать между­народному законодательеву в области безопасности и нормам выброса вредных веществ в атмосферу

mix — смесь; смешивать

negative lift— отрицательная величина подъемной силы

performance — работа, технические характеристики

retain— сохранять, оставлять неизменным

ride — езда, поездка; ехать на автомобиле

rigid — жесткий, строгий

rivet— клепать, соединять заклепками

running board — выступающая подножка (у легкового автомобиля)

save — сберегать, сохранять, экономить; экономия, сбережение

self-adjusting clutch— автоматическое (саморегулирующееся) сцепление

shock — удар

shock absorber— амортизатор

six-speed gearbox— шестиступенчатая коробка передач

span— размах, ряд, диапазон

spring — пружина, пружинная рессора

thermo-plastically and hand-formed aluminum body panels— алюминиевые ку­зовные детали, изготовленные вручную и с помощью термопластичных методов

torsion — скручивание

torsional rigidity — торсионная жесткость

unfailing — надежный, верный, безотказный

unfailingly — надежно, безотказно

unveil — раскрывать, снимать покров (с секрета, тайны)

variability — вариативность, изменяемость

variable — вариативный, переменный

variant — вариант

variety — разнообразие, ассортимент, выбор

various — разный, разнообразный

vary — варьировать, меняться, изменяться

vehicle manufacture— производство автомобилей

veil — покров, завеса, маска; скрывать, маскировать; вуаль, чадра

weight saving— уменьшение веса

wind tunnel — аэродинамическая (ветровая) труба

2. Answer the following questions:

1) What does Geneva Motor Show unfailingly present every year?

2) What was the biggest surprise at Geneva Motor Show?

3) What kind of chassis has Aero 8?

4) What contributes to keeping the car's mass to about 1000 kg?

5) Where was the shape of Aero 8 developed?

3. Match the following English words and Russian equivalents:

fail extraordinary retain extrusion

delight off fender bond

heady establish chassis adhesive

aesthetic vary rivet rigid

match delivery performance keep

exception although ride veil

span agenda torsion cradle

сохранять чрезвычайно терпеть неудачу выдавленный

профиль

крыло вне восхищение соединение

шасси устанавливать стремительный адгезия

клепать изменять эстетический жесткий

работа поставка подходить сохранять

езда хотя исключение завеса

скручивание повестка дня размах колыбель

4. Translate the following words and combinations:

long established, look as if they were styled decades ago, to meet international safety and emissions legislations, flowing fender, running board, thermo-plastically and hand-formed aluminum body panels, weight saving, lightweight components, vehicle manufacture, torsional rigidity, six-speed gearbox, self-adjusting clutch, coil spring, shock absorber, folding roof, negative lift front and rear, wind tunnel

5. Fill in the words from the text and translate the sentences.

It _______ presents a _______ mix of ________ and technological exotica that no other international motor show can _______, and this year was no ________.

The _________ of newly__________ production models, big-name concepts, and small-name _______ was quite______.

Morgan is a very small but _______ _______ (1909) British specialist producer building sports cars that look as if _______ decades ago.

Morgan has developed its cars to meet ______ and ______.

Engineers developed the car over a four-year period, focusing on ________ ________, ________, _________, and _________.

Morgan buyers are _______ aficionadosprepared to order a car from the company and wait several years for _______.

The Aero 8 ________ much of the Morgan style signature, with _______ _______ and broad ________ _________.

The shape, which develops negative lift _______ and ________, was developed in the tunnel.

Text B. ALTERNATIVE VEHICLES.

1. Read the text and retell it.

At the present rate of production oil supplies will run out rather soon, and we will have to look for other sources of energy.

What kind of vehicle will then dominate? Nowadays car makers discuss four promising types of cars: fuel cell cars, electric cars, hybrid cars, and solar electric cars.

The electric car has a long history. The first electrical cars were built at the end of 19th century, but they could not compete against the internal combustion en­gine. Success of the electric car depends on light weight battery, capable of being recharged quickly, and the availability of electric energy.

Several U.S. companies already sell electrics. For example, Solar Electric En­gineering of Santa Rosa, California, offers Solar Electric's Destiny 2000 which comes in at $28, 500, and includes an array of solar cells which provides a tiny bit of power and extends battery life. With its lightweight fiberglass body, the Destiny 2000 can travel 40 to 60 miles on a charge and cruises at 60-70 mph.

General Motors produced the electric car named " Impact". Designed as an electric from top to bottom, the impressive Impact is powered by lead-acid batter­ies. The Impact easily cruises at 70 to 100 mph, and its range is claimed to be 120 miles at lower speeds.

There are many different electric cars around the world. They are used for local deliveries, post offices and the services. But will the electric car ever be­come a universal means of transport?

Today there are several hundred million cars in the world not to mention millions of motorcycles. It is estimated that if these changed over to electricity, they would require six million kilowatt hours, and all the power stations in the world now generate only a little over a third of that.

The hydrogen/air fuel cells look very hopeful. These do not have to be charged, they generate their own energy from a chemical reaction. They convert fuel energy to electrical energy with better than 80% efficiency. But at present the fuel cells prove too expensive.

A hybrid system where electric batteries for city driving would be recharged in highway driving with gasoline fuel is an alternative to the totally electrical system.

2. Answer the following questions:

1) Why will we have to look for other sources of energy?

2) What promising types of cars do car makers discuss nowadays?

3) What does success of the electric car depend on?

4) What are many different electric cars around the world used for nowadays? Why do the hydrogen/air fuel cells look very hopeful?

5) What could be an alternative to the totally electrical system?

3. Fill in the words from the text and translate the sentences.

Solar Electric's Destiny 2000 which comes in at $28, 500, and includes an _______ of ______cells which provides a tiny bit of power and _______ battery _______.

With its lightweight _______body, the Destiny 2000 can ________ 40 to 60 miles on a ________ and cruises at 60-70 mph.

Success of the electric car depends on light weight battery, ________ of being ________ quickly, and the ________ of electric energy.

Designed as an ________ from top to ________, the impressive Impact is ________ by lead-acid batteries.

The hydrogen/air fuel cells look very _________.

These do not have to be ________, they generate their own energy from a _________ reaction.

They_________ fuel energy to electrical energy with better than 80% __________.

But at present the fuel cells prove too_________.

A hybrid system where electric batteries for _______ driving would be recharged in _________ driving with gasoline fuel is an ________ to the ________ electrical system.

Text C. BENTLEY'S INSIDE STORY.

1. Read the text and retell it.

Bentley has created a new concept interior for its Arnage Red Label that combines automotive and furniture design skills. The car has an extended chassis and longer front and rear doors. The major changes to the interior are at the rear.

The car has a center glass division and a " bridge-effect" center console that links with a " cascade" of wood (bird's-eye maple) from the lower edge of the glass division. A powered hatch reveals a folding table, which can be extended and turned.

Fiber-optic lighting is used with dimming and spot focusing, which emanate from a suspended roof panel also of bird's-eye maple.

The wood is very difficult to work into corners and crevices without tearing and the trim for the special Bentley is said to have been one of the company's most difficult woodworking tasks. It was carried out by Bentley's Personal Commissioning Team to the design of Brett Boydell, a 24-year-old design student at Coventry University, England.

UNIT 12

Text A. BOSCH OPTIMIZES AIRBAG ECU.

1. Read and translate the text.

Bosch has developed an airbag control unit with extended functional range for highly precise triggering of airbags and belt tensioners. According to the company, the system detects the impact speed of a frontal collision at a very early stage with the help of two " upfront" sensors. The central crash sensor's information ensures good decision precision. Depending on the type of accident, the occupant restraint systems can be triggered either in one or two phases.

With today's centralized sensing, reliable accident information on the impact speed is available about 50 ms after a crash. Before that, the signal " course" of a slow frontal impact against a solid obstacle differs only slightly from that of a severe frontal impact with an approaching vehicle.

The new system has two acceleration sensors integrated into a vehicle's deformation zone. These upfront sensors transmit signals, from which the electronic control unit calculates early and precisely the energy absorption as well as the velocity of vehicle deformation. After only about 15 ms, it is clearly recognizable whether it will be a minor crash without the actuation of the airbag or a critical crash with triggering of the necessary passive safety systems.

A side impact is detected by means of four side-impact sensors, the signals of which are checked for plausibility against those of the central sensor in the airbag ECU. This concept guarantees early triggering of the side airbag for optimum protection of head and chest in a lateral collision.

2. Answer the following questions:

1) What airbag control unit has the Bosch company developed?

2) How does the system detect the impact speed of a frontal collision?

3) Has the new system acceleration sensors?

4) By what means is a side impact detected?

5) What does this concept guarantee in a lateral collision?

UNIT 13

Text A. MOTORCYCLE INCORPORATES AIRBAG SYSTEM.

1. Read and translate the text.

Honda's Advanced Safety Vehicle (ASV) project has produced the ASV - a Gold Wing GL 1500 touring motorcycle equipped with the air bag system the company has been developing for some years. The GL1500 is a large motorcycle with a mass of 376 kg and a low center of gravity. It is equipped with a large windshield and has its fuel tank housed within the lower body structure. It is particularly suitable for installing an effective airbag system, according to Honda.

Honda considers that a positive aspect for airbags for motorcycles would be to reduce rider-ejection speeds through airbag deployment and to lessen injuries to the riders caused by contacts against other vehicles or road surfaces in accidents.

The airbag's contact surface is V-shaped so that it could intercept a slightly out-of-position rider. Gas venting is critical after airbag deployment. If no vent holes are provided or the vents holes are too small, the rider might bounce back or even upward. Conversely, if venting should take place too rapidly through large holes, the airbag's effectiveness would be reduced. The prototype airbag has two vent holes, each with a 50-mm diameter.

The researchers caution that the motorcycle airbag system has both potential benefits as well as some adverse effects, and further research and development is needed. Accompanying the GL1500 motorcycle is an advanced helmet that has an energy absorbing capacity in rotational direction in addition to the directional impact absorbing ability.

2. Answer the following questions:

1) What special motorcycle has Honda company produced?

2) What would be a positive aspect for airbags for motorcycles?

3) Why does the motorcycle airbag system need further research and development?

4) What is critical after airbag deployment?

5) What might happen if no vent holes are provided or they are too small?

UNIT 14

Text A. THE CAR NIGHT VISION SYSTEM.

1. Read and translate the text.

For Volvo's Safety Concept Car, the night-vision system's infrared image is displayed on the instrument panel or the windshield when the driver activates the system.

Autoliv Inc. is developing an infrared night vision system, the first example of which was displayed in the Volvo Safety Concept Car. The system uses a unique camera that, due to its small dimensions, can be placed so close to the driver's head that it duplicates his/her view as closely as possible. The camera detects heat from objects and is especially sensitive to human and animal temperatures wavelengths.

Like other infrared night-vision systems, this technology is not dependent on a light source and can therefore give a broader and longer view than headlights. This makes it possible to see not only distant objects, but also more on the side of the road - such as animals beginning to cross the road before they are visible in the car's headlights.

In addition, it allows the driver to see what happens in the dark area between two cars with the high beams off, such as people walking without any reflectors.

2. Answer the following questions:

1) Where and when is the infrared image displayed?

2) What does the infrared camera detect?

3) What does the infrared night-vision system allow the driver?

4) Is this technology dependent on a light source?

5) What can this technology give?

UNIT 15

Text A. IMAGE RECOGNITION FOR IVS.

1. Read and translate the text.

The scope of intelligent transportation systems (ITS) is widening, from elec­tronic toll-collection systems to overall driving safety - a move that has seen the commercialization of rear monitoring systems in vehicles.

However, current systems require a number of standard processors and offer a poor level of cost performance. Toshiba has been studying the possibilities for enhanced cost performance through advanced image recognition and customiza­ble processor technologies as well as their application to monitoring the road be­hind and beside the vehicle on which they are installed. The company hopes that advances in reliability will stimulate the market for ITS and contribute to a safer driving environment.

Toshiba announced its research has led to the world's first image-recognition large-scale integration (LSI) integrating a configurable media processor. A ver­sion of the new LSI customized for intelligent vehicle (IV) systems adopts an advanced image-recognition technology that isolates dynamic movement against a background.

The application is able to " transact" 17 or 18 real-time image frames per second — the level required to detect passing vehicles. Thus, the new LSI can monitor traffic in the outside lane when a vehicle in which it is installed is in motion. Mounted in a system board at the back of the vehicle, it tracks the approach of vehicles up to the point where they draw alongside, including the blind spots along the way.

If the driver of the car with the LSI decides to switch lanes when a car is ap­proaching at high speed, a standard image of the road is accompanied by a warn­ing alarm.

The LSI can be useful for other driving situations, such as crossing two lanes of traffic, monitoring the road ahead for obstacles, monitoring the driver's line of vision, and for adaptive cruise control (ACC) needs. In such applications as lane crossing and ACC, the processor can " transact" an average of 100 frames a sec­ond. Toshiba expects to commercialize a monitoring system incorporating the new LSI.

2. Answer the following questions:

1) How is the scope of intelligent transportation systems widening?

2) How many real-time image frames is the processor able to transact?

3) Which lane can the new LSI monitor traffic in?

4) When is a standard image of the road accompanied by a warning alarm?

5) What other operations can the LSI be useful for?

UNIT 16

Text A. TNO AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLE DYNAMICS.

1. Read and translate the text.

Each and every day, developers and designers are confronted with questions, and to answer those questions they need information which can help their de­signs fit the demands of tomorrow.

It is important, therefore, to have detailed insight into a vehicle dynamics as well as into the interaction between people, vehicles, and the environment. And we must constantly bear in mind the needs of the elderly and handicapped for whom some­times modifications need to be quite substantial. All these aspects are part of the research remit of the TNO Automotive Vehicle Dynamics Department.

One of the particular areas of research concerns the interaction between the tyre and the road surface. Tyres play an important, if not key role in the active safety of road vehicles.

TNO developed DELFT tyre to support car and tyre manufacturers with ad­vanced, precision, force and moment tyre modeling tools. Unique measurements taken from both road and laboratory tests are the very heart of the development and the improvements of tyre models. DELFT tyre provides the engineer with a state of the art environment to optimize the vehicle's tyre-chassis system.

Fortunately, the elderly and handicapped are constantly becoming more mo­bile. Their vehicles are equipped with special devices that give them independent mobility often without any assistance. TNO collaborates with companies that specialize in modifying vehicles in this way.

In addition to consulting services, the Vehicle Dynamics Department focuses on research into the interaction between the driver and the vehicle, driver and passenger safety in particular. And, of course, in terms of safety, the manner in which a wheel chair is fastened in a vehicle is absolutely crucial in the event of a collision.

TNO performs tests on wheel chairs and dummies on its crash test track with the aim of ascertaining the safety of the wheel chair and fastening systems. The information provided by these tests helps real chair manufacturers to improve the quality and safety of their products. To test the strength and durability of real chairs TNO has the very latest in test facilities which comply to ISO and SAE Directions. These facilities enable various operating circumstances to be simu­lated in durability tests.

Increasing road traffic intensifies the demands being made on drivers. TNO developed systems that can provide drivers with information or intervene in their actions. One of such systems is ISA. This system which receives signals from trans­mitters located in urban areas is able to automatically restrict vehicle's speed. Both vehicle and road influence each other. The Vehicle Dynamics department in collaboration with the Dutch Department of Transport and Public Works is studying this interaction. The weight of the heavy traffic contributes to the dam­age of roads and bridges, which in turn affects the safety of passing vehicles. The optimum balance between the vehicle and bridge construction can be determined from measurements taken of the bridge and the vehicles.

Within the automobile industry there is a need for objective and comparable testing on various makes and types of vehicles. TNO Vehicle Dynamics provides these research results in the form of a vehicle dynamic data base. New models are regularly subjected to a number of standardized tests which make it possible to compare results.

Sensitivity to side winds is one of the areas of research. The data base creates a reference framework for future vehicle developments that enables the engineer to set the new product against comparable vehicles at an early stage of the develop­ment project.

One of the tests which has been carried out is lane changing. The conditions for performing this test are very precise. Certain tests may require the test vehicle to be equipped with particular devices to ensure that the measurements taken are totally objective and driver independent. In order to ensure the full compatibility of the results, tests are performed on a single permanent closed test track with a level, completely dry, road surface.

The vehicle's stationary cornering is also measured in these same conditions with the vehicle being driven at gradually increasing speeds around a circle plot­ted on the track.

TNO automotive research goes beyond the passenger cars.

The stability and handling performance of trucks are also a part of our research activities.

Using tests like these, Vehicle Dynamics gathers data to develop and validate its computer simulation programmes which can be used to calculate and predict the stability and handling performance of trucks in various circumstances and situa­tions. This data can be used, for instance, to prevent trucks from tipping over.

TNO Vehicle Dynamics. Keeping you on track.

2. Answer the following questions:

1) What are the main research aspects of the TNO Automobiles Vehicle Dynamics Department?

2) What tests does TNO perform on its crash test track?

3) What is ISA system?

4) What tests are new vehicles subjected to?

5) Do TNO researchers deal with trucks?

6) How does TNO Vehicle Dynamics use its computer simulation programmes?

Text В. AUTOMOTIVE TESTS SYSTEMS.

1. Read the text and retell it.

Automotive manufacturers face increased consumer demands, stricter govern­ment regulations, and heightened competition. They must design, manufacture, and test systems and components quicker than ever before to compete in today's market. That means their automotive test equipment must be fast, flexible, and powerful.

The automotive test platform gives engineers one platform for multiple tests, which reduces costs while improving productivity and product quality — ultimately giving companies a competitive advantage. The platform can perform hundreds of tasks. Regardless of the particular task, the platform ensures rapid deployment and reliable operation of critical new technologies.

Engineers can build highly integrated automotive test systems with the automotive test platform, including: telematics test, fuel cell test, ECU* test, dynamometer test, ABS* test, temperature measurement.

ECU* — electronic control unit

ABS* — anti-blocking system

The new Sanden technical center, which is located near Frankfurt, is capa­ble of testing heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems for all types of vehicles. The facility features a climatic wind tunnel that the company regards as the most technically advanced of its type in the world. The environ­mental chamber can control temperature and humidity, solar load, and wind speed. It has dual chassis dynamometers and can simulate a range of driving conditions for the test of HVAC systems. Fuel consumption and emissions can also be meas­ured.

The climatic wind tunnel operates from -50 to +40°C (-58 to + 104°F) at speeds to 160 km/h (100 mph) and humidity levels to 95%. Solar simulations ranges are from 0.3 to 1.2 kW per square meter. The dynamometers can cope with front-, rear-, and four-wheel drive configurations. A separate noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) chamber can measure these effects in relation to air-conditioning systems.

A particular focus at the new technical center will concern future technology. Environmental commitment and an emphasis on fuel savings will be integral parts of research and development at the facility, as will the development of systems for electric cars, low noise systems, the elimination of CFC*, and the development of alternative refrigerants.

CFC* - chlorofluorocarbon - хлорфторутлероды; при попадании в ат­мосферу разрушают озоновый слой.

UNIT 17

Text A. BENTLEY ARNAGE.

1. Read and translate the text.

Now completely new Bentley has evolved. New in every respect. Body design, matrix grill, unique alloys wheels. The purposeful starts of a thoroughbred Bentley. Handcrafted, the interior reflects lineage. The double stitched Connoly hide, the curved form of the veneered fascia with its parchment instruments, the sport four-spoke steering wheel. The new five speed automatic transmission is linked to the adaptive suspension system, setting new standards for Bentley road hold­ing and ride.

Peak torque is delivered from 2500 revolutions per minute due to the low inertia turbochargers which are close coupled to the exhaust manifold to maximize the exhaust energy. The result is instantaneous throttle response 50 to 70 in only 3.4 seconds, making overtaking effortless.

Computer technology monitors and adjusts the suspension characteristics each hundredth of a second insuring optimum balance and poise to suit road condi­tions.

The new twined turbocharged V8 produces 3 hundred and fifty brake horse power up to 60 in just 6.2 seconds and top speed limited to 150 miles per hour with enough stopping power to bring it to rest from 60 miles per hour in just 3 seconds.

The engine's power characteristics demand an equally agile transmission chas­sis. The body shell is 65 percent suffer than its predecessor but the weight distribu­tion is perfectly balanced between front and rear. Whatever transmission mode be selected, the thrill of driving is maintained. Sport is the most responsive and in­volving.

So how appropriate to name it after a corner but not of any corner — a corner called ARNAGE - one of the hardest tests of the Le Mans circuit, a corner the first 4.5 litre Bentley took many times on its way to victory all those years ago.

The new Bentley Arnage.

2. Answer the following questions:

1) What are the starts in the new Bentley?

2) What maximizes the exhaust energy?

3) What monitors the suspension characteristics?

4) How can the brake power and stopping power be characterized?

5) What is new in the body shell of the Bentley Arnage?

6) Why is the new Bentley called " Arnage"?

Text В. BENTLEY'S INSIDE STORY.

1. Read the text and retell it.

Bentley has created a new concept interior for its Arnage Red Label that combines automotive and furniture design skills. The car has an extended chassis and longer front and rear doors. The major changes to the interior are at the rear.

The car has a center glass division and a " bridge-effect" center console that links with a " cascade" of wood (bird's-eye maple) from the lower edge of the glass division. A powered hatch reveals a folding table, which can be extended and turned.

Fiber-optic lighting is used with dimming and spot focusing, which emanate from a suspended roof panel also of bird's-eye maple.

The wood is very difficult to work into corners and crevices without tearing and the trim for the special Bentley is said to have been one of the company's most difficult woodworking tasks. It was carried out by Bentley's Personal Commissioning Team to the design of Brett Boydell, a 24-year-old design student at Coventry University, England.

UNIT 18

Text A. GENEVA MOTOR SHOW.

1. Read and translate the text.

The annual Geneva Motor Show is one of the automotive delights of the year. It unfailingly presents a heady mix of aesthetic and technological exotica that no other international motor show can match, and this year was no excep­tion. The span of newly unveiled production models, big-name concepts, and small-name one-offs was quite extraordinary.

The biggest surprise at Geneva was the new Morgan Aero 8. Morgan is a very small but long established (1909) British specialist producer building sports cars that look as if they were styled decades ago - which, more or less, they were. Morgan buyers are invariably aficionados prepared to order a car from the com­pany and wait several years for delivery. Although Morgan has developed its cars to meet international safety and emissions legislation, new models in the fullest sense have not been on the agenda - until now.

The Aero 8 retains much of the Morgan style signature, with flowing fenders and broad running boards; in this respect it is as retro as retro can be. However, in some senses the remarkably individualistic Aero 8 is thoroughly Y2K. De­scribed as a " completely new" model, it has an aluminum chassis and a combi­nation of thermo-plastically and hand-formed aluminum body panels. Morgan describes it as an AIV (aluminum-intensive vehicle).

Engineers developed the car over a four-year period, focusing on weight sav­ing, performance, ride, and handling - with lightweight components and materi­als central to the car's design. The Aero 8 uses " the latest aluminum material" which has been specially designed for use in vehicle manufacture. Sections of the aluminum are bonded using a high performance adhesive and riveted for secondary strength. This combination provides excellent torsional rigidity, claims the company.

The Aero 8 uses a 4.4-L BMW engine producing 210 kW (281 hp) at 5500 rpm. A six-speed gearbox with self-adjusting clutch is fitted. The engine's cra­dle is made from aluminum extrusions. Use of aluminum extrusions for suspen­sion and braking systems contributes to keeping the car's mass to about 1000 kg. Suspension is all-independent.

At the front, each side gets a long cantilever upper arm with lower wishbone and inboard Eibach coil springs over a Koni shock absorber. The Aero 8 has an H-frame. Designed in in-house using CATIA software, the car has a Cd of 0.39, a figure which shows little variance with the folding roof erect or lowered.

The shape, which develops negative lift front and rear, was developed in the wind tunnel.

2. Answer the following questions:

1) What does Geneva Motor Show unfailingly present every year?

2) What was the biggest surprise at Geneva Motor Show?

3) What kind of chassis has Aero 8?

4) What contributes to keeping the car's mass to about 1000 kg?

5) Where was the shape of Aero 8 developed?

Text В. FUEL CELLS START ТО LOOK REAL.

1. Read the text and retell it.

Though any death-knell for the internal combustion (IС) engine is decades off, the world's automakers seem to believe that the low-emissions, high efficien­cy fuel cell will eventually deliver the power and performance that drivers expect.

Progress in fuel-cell technology in recent years seems to have convinced many in the automotive and energy industries that the dependable IС engine will eventually be overtaken by a clean alternative power system. But there are many issues.

Until recently, building a fuel cell sufficiently powerful to run a car was costly - even more than a vehicle powered by electrochemical batteries or a hybrid drive. To attain the power levels of a standard-issue IС engine in a midsize sedan, a fuel cell needs to produce from 60 to 90 kW.

Even though several types of fuel cells exist, they all work under the same basic premise of converting hydrogen and oxygen into electrical power. Proton exchange membrane (PEM) is gaining most of the attention in automotive applications due to its relatively low operating temperature and high efficiency.

When NASA first started using fuel-cell technology in space, a PEM fuel cell cost about $500, 000 per kW. Today that price has dropped to around $500 per kW - but that means that a fuel-cell engine still costs about $25, 000, which is around seven times the price of a typical IC engine (about $3, 500).

The PEM fuel cell operates by using platinum-coated membranes as a catalyst to break a hydrogen atom into a proton and an electron. The membrane is per­meable to protons, but impenetrable to free electrons. These electrons are forced to travel through an electric circuit before they rejoin with free protons and oxy­gen molecules to form water.

The introduction of computer control revolutionized the internal combustion engine. It allowed engineers to monitor and control fuel rate, timing, and cooling. To develop a viable fuel cell, engineers need to accurately monitor the condition of the hydrogen stream, oxygen stream, output voltage, and current. To optimize a fuel cell, not only are the flow and pressure of the hydrogen and oxygen moni­tored, but also the humidity and temperature of the gas streams.

A fundamental problem with fuel-cell technology is fuel selection and storage. With " direct hydrogen" fuelling, vehicles carry pressure vessels filled with this highly flammable gas. Hydrogen can also be stored as a liquid, but it must be kept at cryogenic temperatures, adding weight, complexity, and even greater safety issues than compressed hydrogen techniques.

GM built the HydroGen 1 test vehicle using an Opel Zafira minivan platform. The location of the cryogenic liquid-hydrogen fuel supply is in the same spot as the conventional gasoline tank and the fuel cell is in the conventional front-en­gine location. The Stack 2000 fuel cell would eliminate the humidifiers, making the fuel-cell system more compact.

UNIT 19

Text A. ALTERNATIVE VEHICLES.

1. Read and translate the text.

At the present rate of production oil supplies will run out rather soon, and we will have to look for other sources of energy.

What kind of vehicle will then dominate? Nowadays car makers discuss four promising types of cars: fuel cell cars, electric cars, hybrid cars, and solar electric cars.

The electric car has a long history. The first electrical cars were built at the end of 19th century, but they could not compete against the internal combustion en­gine. Success of the electric car depends on light weight battery, capable of being recharged quickly, and the availability of electric energy.

Several U.S. companies already sell electrics. For example, Solar Electric En­gineering of Santa Rosa, California, offers Solar Electric's Destiny 2000 which comes in at $28, 500, and includes an array of solar cells which provides a tiny bit of power and extends battery life. With its lightweight fiberglass body, the Destiny 2000 can travel 40 to 60 miles on a charge and cruises at 60-70 mph.

General Motors produced the electric car named " Impact". Designed as an electric from top to bottom, the impressive Impact is powered by lead-acid batter­ies. The Impact easily cruises at 70 to 100 mph, and its range is claimed to be 120 miles at lower speeds.

There are many different electric cars around the world. They are used for local deliveries, post offices and the services. But will the electric car ever be­come a universal means of transport?

Today there are several hundred million cars in the world not to mention millions of motorcycles. It is estimated that if these changed over to electricity, they would require six million kilowatt hours, and all the power stations in the world now generate only a little over a third of that.

The hydrogen/air fuel cells look very hopeful. These do not have to be charged, they generate their own energy from a chemical reaction. They convert fuel energy to electrical energy with better than 80% efficiency. But at present the fuel cells prove too expensive.

A hybrid system where electric batteries for city driving would be recharged in highway driving with gasoline fuel is an alternative to the totally electrical system.

2. Answer the following questions:

1) Why will we have to look for other sources of energy?

2) What promising types of cars do car makers discuss nowadays?

3) What does success of the electric car depend on?

4) What are many different electric cars around the world used for nowadays? Why do the hydrogen/air fuel cells look very hopeful?

5) What could be an alternative to the totally electrical system?