Are Robot Waiters the Future1?機(jī)器人服務(wù)員是未來(lái)的趨勢(shì)嗎？

長(zhǎng)庚

You may have already seen them in restaurants： robots that greet guests， showthem to their tables and deliver2 their meals.

你可能已經(jīng)在餐館里見(jiàn)過(guò)它們：會(huì)招呼客人，帶他們到餐桌前，還會(huì)端菜的機(jī)器人。

Sales of robot waiters have been growing in these years. Tens of thousands arenow working all over the world. But are robot waiters the future？

近年來(lái)，機(jī)器人服務(wù)員的銷(xiāo)售額一直在增長(zhǎng)。數(shù)以萬(wàn)計(jì)的機(jī)器人現(xiàn)在正在世界各地工作。但機(jī)器人服務(wù)員是未來(lái)所趨嗎？

In a survey of US， 62% of restaurant owners say they dont have enough3workers. Many think robots can solve4 this problem.

在一項(xiàng)美國(guó)的調(diào)查中，62%的餐館老板表示他們沒(méi)有足夠的員工。許多人認(rèn)為機(jī)器人可以解決這個(gè)問(wèn)題。

But others say it will be a long time before robot waiters can take the place ofhumans5. Robots cant take orders， and they cant walk well sometimes.

但也有人說(shuō)，機(jī)器人服務(wù)員要取代人類(lèi)還需要很長(zhǎng)時(shí)間。機(jī)器人不能接受點(diǎn)餐，有時(shí)也不能很好地行走。

Still， the robots are getting more popular.

盡管如此，機(jī)器人越來(lái)越受歡迎。

Li Zhai was having problem with finding waiters for his Michigan restaurant， sohe bought three robots. Now， one robot shows people to their seats， another deliversbowls of noodles to tables， while a third carries dirty dishes back to the kitchen.

李齋（音）在為密歇根州的餐廳招服務(wù)員時(shí)遇到了問(wèn)題，所以他買(mǎi)了三個(gè)機(jī)器人?，F(xiàn)在，一個(gè)機(jī)器人領(lǐng)著客人到座位上，另一個(gè)機(jī)器人把面端到桌子上，第三個(gè)機(jī)器人把臟盤(pán)子拿回廚房。

He only needs three robots to do the same work that five or six people oncedid. And while a robot costs around $15，000， a person costs $5，000 to $6，000 fora month.

他只需要三個(gè)機(jī)器人就可以完成曾經(jīng)五六個(gè)人做過(guò)的同樣的工作。雖然一個(gè)機(jī)器人的價(jià)格約為15000 美元，但一個(gè)人的月工資為5000 至6000 美元。

He said the robots give human waiters more time with customers， whichmakes tips grow. And customers post videos of the robots online6. That bringsthe restaurant more business.

他說(shuō)，機(jī)器人讓人類(lèi)服務(wù)員有更多的時(shí)間與顧客相處，賺取了更多的小費(fèi)。顧客們會(huì)在網(wǎng)上發(fā)布機(jī)器人的視頻。這給餐館帶來(lái)了更多的生意。

Marcus Merritt was surprised to see a robot waiter at a restaurant in Atlantanot long ago. “I think technology7 is part of our everyday life now，”he said.“Everybody uses some kind of computer. Its a natural progression8.”

不久前，馬庫(kù)斯·梅里特在亞特蘭大的一家餐廳驚訝地看到一個(gè)機(jī)器人服務(wù)員?！拔艺J(rèn)為科技已經(jīng)成為我們?nèi)粘Ｉ畹囊徊糠帧！彼f(shuō)，“每個(gè)人都在使用某種電腦。這是一種自然的進(jìn)步?！?/p>

However， someone says restaurantscould easily solve their labor shortages9 ifthey paid workers more.

然而，有人說(shuō)如果餐館給員工更多的工資，就可以很容易地解決勞動(dòng)力短缺問(wèn)題。

Notes

1. future 未來(lái)；將來(lái)；前途；前景

2. deliver 遞送

3. enough 充足的；足夠的

4. solve 解決；處理

5. human 人；人類(lèi)

6. online 在網(wǎng)上；在線(xiàn)地

7. technology 科技；技術(shù)

8. progression 發(fā)展；前進(jìn)

9. labor shortage 勞力短缺；勞動(dòng)力短缺