外文翻译--微型机器.doc

附录： Micro-machine From the beginning, mankind seems instinctively to have desired large machines and small machines. That is, large” and “small” in comparison with human-scale. Machine larger than human are powerful allies in the battle against the fury of nature; smaller machines are loyal partners that do whatever they are told. 1.introduce If we compare the facility and technology of manufacturing larger machines, common sense tells us that the smaller machines are easier to make. Nevertheless, throughout the history of technology, larger machines have always stood out. The size of the restored models of the water-mill invented by Vitruvius in the Roman Era, the windmill of the Middle Ages, and the steam engine invented by Watt is overwhelming. On the other hand, smaller machines in history of technology are mostly tools. If smaller machines are easier to make, a variety of such machines should exist, but until modern times, no significant small machines existed except for guns and clocks This fact may imply that smaller machines were actually more difficult to make. Of course , this does not mean simply that it was difficult to make a small machine; It means that it was difficult to invent a small machine that would be significant to human beings. Some people might say that mankind may not have wanted smaller machines. This theory, however ,dies not explain the recent popularity of palm-size mechatronics products. Some people might say that mankind may not have wanted smaller machines. This theory, however, does not explain the recent popularity of palm-size mechatronics products. The absence of small machines in history may be due to the extreme difficulty in manufacturing small precision parts. 2. Why micromachine now The dream of the ultimate small machine, or micro-machine, was first depicted in detail about 30 years ago in the 1966 movie “Fantastic Voyage”. At that time, the study of micro-machining of semiconductors had already begun. The