Computer scientists at Saarland University, Germany, have developed a wireless bicycle brake they say could revolutionise control systems.
The brake, which does away with the cable that would usually be found running down the fork holding the bicycle's front wheel, works like a wireless mouse.
The rider simply squeezes the pressure-sensitive handle grip to brake and the electronics do the rest.
The more tightly the grip is clenched, the harder the disk brake on the front wheel works.
The scientists say their calculations have proved the brake system's reliability is so good it could be used to control systems in aircraft, trains and factories.
The sender is integrated in a blue plastic box which is the size of a cigarette packet and is attached to the handlebar. Its radio signals are sent to a receiver attached at the end of the bicycle's fork.
The receiver forwards the signal to an actuator, transforming the radio signal into the mechanical power by which the disk brake is activated.
To enhance reliability, there are additional senders attached to the bicycle all repeatedly sending the same signal.
Professor Hermanns and his team now hope to adapt the technology so that it can be applied to more heavy-duty equipment, like planes, trains and factory production lines.





据英国《每日邮报》10月24日报道，德国萨尔州大学的计算机科学家们已研发出了一种自行车无线刹车装置，据悉此举将彻底变革控制系统。

自行车的车闸线一般相互交叉，能阻止车轮的前进。该刹车装置去除了车闸线，工作起来如同一只无线鼠标。
骑车的人只需捏紧装有压力传感器的自行车手柄就能刹车。

骑车人手柄握得越紧，给前轮的盘式制动器施加的压力就越大。

科学家们称他们的计算证明了该制动系统的可靠性良好，能适用于飞机、火车和工厂的控制系统。

信号发送器安装于自行车把手上一个香烟盒大小的蓝色塑料盒里。其无线电讯号接收器则安装在自行车前轮支架的末端。
信号接收器把无线电讯号转化成机械功率运送给驱动器实现制动。

为了提高可靠性，自行车还安装有附加的信号发送器能多次发送相同的无线电讯号。

赫尔曼斯教授和他的研发团队目前希望改进此技术以便它能适用于更多的重型器械，如飞机、火车以及工厂生产线。

• computer [kəm´pju:tə] n.计算机；电子计算器 (初中英语单词)
• running [´rʌniŋ] a.奔跑的；流动的 (初中英语单词)
• mechanical [mi´kænikəl] a.机械的；力学的 (初中英语单词)
• additional [ə´diʃənəl] a.附加的，额外的 (初中英语单词)
• equipment [i´kwipmənt] n.装备，设备 (初中英语单词)
• bicycle [´baisik(ə)l] n.自行车 (高中英语单词)
• tightly [´taitli] ad.紧，紧密地 (高中英语单词)
• receiver [ri´si:və] n.接收者；接待人 (高中英语单词)
• packet [´pækit] n.盒 vt....打成小包 (英语四级单词)
• repeatedly [ri´pi:tidli] ad.反复地；再三地 (英语四级单词)
• holding [´həuldiŋ] n.保持，固定，存储 (英语六级单词)
• enhance [in´hɑ:ns] vt.提高，增加；增进 (英语六级单词)
• applied [ə´plaid] a.实用的，应用的 (英语六级单词)