Ex.3. Answer the following questions to the text. Be careful: one question has nothing to do with the text!

Navigation. Automated guided vehicles in FMS are used to transport an object from point A to point B. Automated guided vehicles navigate through manufacturing areas with sensors. There are two main sensors which AGVs use for navigation, a wired and a wireless sensor.

The newest generation of the automated guided vehicle (AGV) is used to transport motor blocks from one assembly station to another. It is guided by an electrical wire installed in the floor. There are thousands of AGVs transporting products in industry, warehouses, and even hospitals.

The wireless navigation is done by mounting retroreflective tape* on walls or machines. The AGV carries a laser transmitter and receiver. The laser beam is sent offand then received again. The angle and (sometimes) distance are automatically calculated and stored into the AGV’s memory. The AGV has reflector map** stored in memory and can correct its position based on errors between the expected and received measurements. It can then navigate to a destination using the constantly updating position.

Notes: * retroreflectivetape - отражающаялента;

**reflectormap - зд.: информация об отраженном сигнале.

Ex. 2. Search the text for the English equivalents of the following Russian phrases:

понимать основы; вместо того чтобы использовать …; станки с числовым программным управлением; определять радиочастоту; проводной датчик; беспроводной датчик.

Ex. 3. Answer the following questions to the text. Be careful: one question has nothing to do with the text!

1. What does the abbreviation FMS mean?

2. For how long can a machine perform repetitive tasks?

3. What machines does FMS use to form a flexible manufacturing cell?

4. What task does each flexible manufacturing cell perform?

5. Is it cheap to operate a flexible manufacturing system?

6. Can a small business afford to install a FMS?

7. What country was the first to introduce flexible manufacturing systems?

8. What vehicles are used to connect flexible manufacturing cells together?

9. What helps AGVs to navigate through manufacturing facilities?

10. What sensors are used for navigation?

11. Where is the wired sensor placed?

12. In what way is the wireless navigation done?

13. What receiver and transmitter does the AGV carry?

14. Where is the information about the angle and distance stored?

15. In what way can the AGV correct its position while navigating through manufacturing areas?

Ex. 4. Each of the sentences below is followed by two paraphrases. Decide which paraphrase (a, b) is closer in meaning to the original comment. Translate the original comment and the paraphrases into Russian.

1. Although FMS is fast and efficient it is not cheap because it requires a lot of expensive machines in order to work.

a) Flexible manufacturing systems have a number of economical advantages, but their installation and operation is very expensive.

b) FMS is fast and efficient; therefore its installation and operation require a lot of money.

2. There are two main sensors which AGVs use for navigation - a wired and a wireless sensor.

a) Automated guided vehicles navigate using either infloor communication lines or laser communication.

b) Radio control permits two way communication between the on-board computer and a remote computer.

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