為什麼美國空軍飛行員的頭盔每頂造價高達40萬美元？：英語精讀講義

Fighter pilot helmets.

戰鬥機飛行員頭盔。

Long gone are the days when ace pilots took to the skies with just a pair of goggles and a leather helmet to protect from the cold. 講解

王牌飛行員只需戴上一副護目鏡和一頂防寒皮帽就能翱翔藍天的日子早已一去不復返。

Nowadays fighter pilots wear helmets that give them nearly god-like powers of perception from their perch high above the clouds. 慣用語

如今，戰鬥機飛行員佩戴的頭盔，能讓他們在雲端高處的坐席上擁有近乎神一般的感知能力。

But what kind of technology is a fighter pilot's helmet packing? 表達脈絡

但戰鬥機飛行員的頭盔裡到底裝了什麼樣的科技？

And is it really worth the $400,000 price tag revealed for the F-35's helmet? 片語搭配

F-35頭盔標出40萬美元的標價，它真的物有所值嗎？

Hello and welcome to another episode of the Infographics Show.

大家好，歡迎收看新一期的Infographics Show。

Today we're taking a look at what's inside a fighter pilot's helmet. 片語搭配

今天我們要來看看戰鬥機飛行員頭盔裡究竟有些什麼。

At a 2015 press briefing, Air Force Chief of Staff General Mark A. Welsh III remarked,

在2015年的一場新聞發布會上，空軍參謀長Mark A. Welsh III上將評論道：

"The helmet is much more than a helmet.

「這頂頭盔遠不僅僅是一頂頭盔。

The helmet is a workspace.

這頂頭盔是一個工作站。

It's an interpretation of the battle space.

它是對戰場空間的解讀。

It's situational awareness.

它是態勢感知。

Calling this thing a helmet is really,

把這東西叫做頭盔真的太侷限了，

we've got to come up with a new word." 片語動詞

我們得想個新詞兒來稱呼它。」

It's true that for a fighter pilot,

的確，對於戰鬥機飛行員來說，

modern helmets are indispensable to battlefield success.

現代頭盔是戰場取勝不可或缺的裝備。

Helmets don't just protect the head from accidentally slamming into the cockpit during high-speed maneuvers.

頭盔不僅僅是為了防止在高速機動時頭部意外撞到駕駛艙。

Modern helmets provide a host of targeting data and sensors that help keep the pilots in complete awareness of his part of the sky. 片語搭配

現代頭盔提供大量目標數據和感測器，幫助飛行員對他所在的那片天空保持全面的感知。

But what exactly are these high-tech cranium holsters really packing? 慣用語

但這些高科技「頭蓋骨套」裡面到底裝了什麼？

An F-35 pilot's helmet gives its wearer X-ray vision, 慣用語

F-35飛行員的頭盔賦予了佩戴者透視眼，

giving him or her access to six cameras embedded into the skin of the airplane

讓他們能夠連接嵌在飛機蒙皮裡的六個攝影機，

at the front, rear, and below the airplane.

這些攝影機位於飛機的前方、後方和下方。

As the pilot turns their head,

當飛行員轉動頭部時，

the feed is stitched together instantly 片語動詞

視訊畫面會瞬間拼接在一起，

to allow the pilot to see straight through the aircraft below them.

讓飛行員能夠直接看穿腳下的飛機。

Amazing technology, we're sure,

這絕對是項令人驚嘆的技術，

but probably a little nerve-wracking the first time you're using it,

但在你第一次使用時可能有些令人膽戰心驚，

since you must feel like you're flying through the air in nothing at all.

因為你一定會覺得像是懸空在天上飛行一樣。

Though some detractors have stated that they could get the same picture

雖然一些批評者表示他們只需傾斜飛機，

by simply banking their planes and looking at the cockpit windows, 用詞

看看駕駛艙的窗戶就能獲得同樣的畫面，

it's important to note that with a stealth aircraft, 表達脈絡

但需要注意的是，對於隱形戰機，

changing your airplane's orientation versus incoming radar waves

改變飛機相對於來襲雷達波的方向

might actually create a larger return and give you away. 片語動詞

實際上可能會產生更大的雷達反射面積從而暴露自己。

Also,

此外，

the feed is overlaid with important flight path information 片語搭配

畫面上還會疊加重要的航線資訊，

and pops up, giving info on ground targets below or ahead.

並能彈出提示，提供下方或前方地面目標的資訊。

It's sort of like flying Wonder Woman's invisible plane, 表達脈絡

這感覺有點像駕駛神力女超人的隱形戰機，

but many times deadlier.

但致命程度卻要高出許多倍。

The helmet gives its wearer this ultimate X-ray vision

這款頭盔透過追蹤飛行員頭部相對於座椅發射的磁場的位置，

by tracking the pilot's head relative to a magnetic field transmitted from the seat. 片語搭配

賦予了佩戴者這種終極透視能力。

As the pilot's head moves,

當飛行員的頭部移動時，

the helmet detects a change in the field

頭盔會檢測到磁場的變化，

and senses new positions and orientation

並感應出新的位置和方向，

instantly updating the video feeds. 文法

瞬間更新視訊畫面。

While early versions of this system caused some lag, 文法

雖然該系統的早期版本會導致一些延遲，

new iterations are lag-free and pilots seem to be loving it.

但新的迭代版本已經實現了零延遲，飛行員們似乎也非常喜歡。

Helmets also provide vital targeting data to a pilot,

頭盔還能為飛行員提供至關重要的瞄準數據，

whereas pilots used to rely on heads-up displays 文法

而以前飛行員只能依靠平視顯示器，

that were fixed at the front of the cockpit.

那東西是固定在駕駛艙正前方的。

New helmets project that data directly onto the helmet itself,

新型頭盔將這些數據直接投影到頭盔本身上，

so a pilot could be looking anywhere and still have access to vital targeting data. 片語搭配

因此飛行員可以看向任何地方，依然能夠獲取重要的瞄準數據。

Helmets patch in forward-looking infrared cameras

頭盔接入了前視紅外線攝影機

and infrared search and track radar,

和紅外線搜索與跟蹤雷達，

providing info on target identity and distance.

提供目標的身份和距離資訊。

And if required,

如果有需要，

even advises on which weapon currently equipped to use.

它甚至能提供關於目前應使用哪種掛載武器的建議。

This allows a pilot to track, 用詞

這使得飛行員可以追蹤、

target,

瞄準，

and engage an enemy target

並攻擊敵方目標，

while scanning his rear or six 文化背景

同時還能掃描後方或六點鐘方向，

to make sure he or she isn't being targeted themselves.

以確保自己沒有被別人瞄準。

A huge jump in capabilities from the days 片語搭配

這與當年飛行員必須死死盯住正前方

when pilots were locked staring straight ahead

才能弄清楚如何攻擊敵人的時代相比，

to figure out how to engage an enemy.

能力上實現了巨大的飛躍。

Flight helmets such as the F-35's also offers night vision

像F-35所用的飛行頭盔還直接在頭盔本身內建了

built directly into the helmet itself,

夜視功能，

which replaces the traditional system of trying to don night vision goggles 用詞

這就取代了過去試圖在駕駛飛機時

while flying a plane.

戴上夜視鏡的傳統系統。

By switching between regular vision, 文法

透過在普通視覺、

night vision,

夜視，

and even thermal tracking,

甚至熱成像追蹤之間切換，

there's nowhere to hide from an F-35 pilot. 慣用語

在F-35飛行員面前將無處遁形。

Modern flight helmets also offer picture-in-picture capabilities,

現代飛行頭盔還提供子母畫面功能，

letting pilots create small pop-up windows

讓飛行員可以調出小的彈出視窗，

which display in real time video feed from another fighter in range 片語搭配

裡面能即時顯示範圍內另一架戰鬥機的視訊畫面，

or perhaps from a friendly UAV secretly loitering above an enemy. 用詞

或者可能是來自一架在敵軍上空秘密盤旋的友軍無人機。

With a target represented by a symbol in the fighter pilot's helmet,

如果目標在戰鬥機飛行員的頭盔中由一個符號表示，

all they have to do is physically look at the target symbol 文法

他們所要做的就是物理上看一眼那個目標符號，

and a miniature video feed of the target will pop up for them,

目標的小微型視訊畫面就會為他們彈出來，

helping pilots decide whether to engage their target or not. 文法

幫助飛行員決定是否要攻擊目標。

But vision is only part of what a helmet does.

但視覺只是頭盔功能的一部分。

With reinforced Kevlar designs,

採用強化的克維拉設計，

modern flight helmets are all but bulletproof 慣用語

現代飛行頭盔幾乎是防彈的，

and help protect the pilot's head during extreme maneuvers

並能在極端機動

or emergency ejections.

或緊急彈射時幫助保護飛行員的頭部。

To protect their hearing and to help them focus better, 文法

為了保護他們的聽力並幫助他們更好地集中注意力，

they also offer active noise reduction that silences ambient din.

它們還提供主動降噪功能，可以消除周圍的噪音。

They also use spatial audio technology

它們還利用空間音訊技術

to increase a pilot's situational awareness.

來增強飛行員的態勢感知能力。

If,

如果，

for instance,

例如，

a pilot is targeted from the left,

一名飛行員從左側被鎖定，

an audio ping from that earpiece will let them know.

左側聽筒發出的提示音就會讓他們知曉。

All that technology doesn't come cheap. 慣用語

所有這些技術都不便宜。

As mentioned,

如前所述，

an F-35 helmet costs approximately $400,000 apiece 用詞

一頂F-35頭盔的價格大約是每頂40萬美元，

and includes a lengthy fitting process

並且包含一個漫長的適配過程，

that makes each helmet specifically built for individual pilots.

使得每一頂頭盔都是為單名飛行員量身定制的。

A 3D scan of the pilot's head is entered into a database

飛行員頭部的3D掃描數據會被輸入資料庫，

from which technicians design software 文法

技術人員據此設計軟體，

that drives milling machines to cut the foam liner by laser.

透過軟體驅動銑床用雷射切割泡沫內襯。

A pilot then has their eyes measured with a pupilometer

然後，飛行員要用瞳孔計測量眼睛，

to align the optics package to within just 2 mm 片語搭配

將光學組件對準至距離每個瞳孔中心

of the center of each pupil.

僅2毫米的範圍內。

This ensures that the images projected converge

這就確保了投影的圖像能匯聚

onto the pilot's natural field of view,

到飛行員自然的視野中，

which in turn helps reduce eye strain and fatigue. 表達脈絡

從而有助於減少眼睛的疲勞感。

Pilots then must return for a final fitting of the liner

然後飛行員必須返回進行內襯的最終試戴，

so that the vision and its display feeds are adjusted

以便調整視覺及其顯示畫面，

to ensure only a single fused image appears.

確保只呈現出單一的融合圖像。

Otherwise,

否則，

a pilot might have double or triple vision 用詞

飛行員可能會因為未對準的視訊畫面

from misaligned video feeds.

而產生重影或三重視圖。

Technicians then spend 2 days to shape the helmet liner

隨後，技術人員要花兩天時間根據每位飛行員的腦袋

to each individual pilot's noggin 用詞

對頭盔內襯進行塑形，

to ensure the optical sensors are perfectly aligned

確保光學感測器

with the pilot's pupils.

與飛行員的瞳孔完美對齊。

These careful measurements also ensure that the helmet rests

這些仔細的測量還能確保頭盔戴在

on the pilot's head in such a way 文法

飛行員頭上的位置，

that its center of gravity is perfectly aligned with the pilot's spine

其重心正好與飛行員的脊椎完美對齊，

in order to prevent neck injuries during ejections

以防止在彈射

or high-speed maneuvers.

或高速機動時頸部受傷。

All these careful and precise measurements

所有這些謹慎而精確的測量

basically make helmets unusable except by the specific pilot

基本上使得頭盔只有特定的飛行員才能使用，

they were developed for,

也就是為其專門開發頭盔的那名飛行員，

meaning that investing in an F-35 is not just an investment 文法

這意味著投資一架F-35不僅僅是對

in the aircraft itself,

飛機本身的投資，

but in its pilot, too.

也是對其飛行員的投資。

But with as cool a job as piloting the world's most advanced aircraft, 文法

不過，駕駛世界上最先進的戰機是如此炫酷的一份工作，

we're sure there's no threat of any of these pilots getting bored

我們相信這些飛行員絕對沒有很快就會感到厭倦

and quitting anytime soon.

並辭職離去的危險。

Are these $400,000 helmets really worth the price tag

這些價值40萬美元的頭盔真的值這個價嗎，

or are they just another money sink 慣用語

或者它們僅僅是世界上最昂貴武器項目中

in the world's most expensive weapons program?

又一個砸錢的無底洞？

What other military tech would you like to see explained?

你還想看哪些其他軍事科技的解析？

Let us know in the comments.

請在評論區告訴我們。

Also,

此外，

be sure to check out our other video,

一定記得去看看我們的其他影片，

Worst Punishments in the History of Mankind.

《人類歷史上最殘酷的懲罰》。

Thanks for watching,

感謝您的收看，

and as always,

和往常一樣，

please don't forget to like, share, and subscribe.

請別忘了按讚、分享並訂閱。