Homes today can have thermostats, TVs, computers, phones, refrigerators, and light bulbs all on the same WiFi network.

如今的家庭可以將恆溫器、電視、電腦、電話、冰箱和燈泡都放在同一個WiFi網絡上。

But all of these devices required a power source like a battery or a wall outlet.

但這些設備都需要電池或牆上的插座等電源。

Until researchers at the University of Washington have figured out a way to 3D print devices that can use WiFi to communicate

直到華盛頓大學的研究人員想出了一種3D打印設備的方法，可以利用WiFi進行通信。

with other devices like smartphones, without the need for batteries or electronics.

與智能手機等其他設備配合使用，無需電池或電子產品。

The trick is the devices the researchers created relied on ambient WiFi signals,

訣竅是研究人員創造的設備依靠環境WiFi信號。

the electromagnetic waves your modem is always emitting.

你的調制解調器一直在發射電磁波。

This technique is what's known as WiFi backscattering.

這種技術就是所謂的WiFi反向散射。

Instead of sending its own signal, the devices used an antenna to reflect these waves and talk to other receivers.

這些設備不是發送自己的信號，而是使用天線來反射這些波，並與其他接收器進行通話。

The antenna was made using a 3D printer and consists of composite plastics which are conductive

天線是用3D打印機制作的，由複合塑膠組成，具有導電性。

thanks to copper and graphene filings.

得益於銅和石墨烯薄膜。

But just making an antenna to reflect ambient WiFi wasn't enough;

但僅僅做一個天線來反射環境WiFi是不夠的。

the researchers needed a way to modulate the reflected waves and encode information.

研究人員需要一種調製反射波和編碼資訊的方法。

Once again, 3D printing was their answer.

再一次，3D打印是他們的答案。

A switch was attached to a spiral shaped spring, and a gear pressed against the spring.

一個開關連接在一個螺旋形的彈簧上，一個齒輪壓在彈簧上。

When the gear spun, it forced the switch to rapidly make and break contact with the antenna,

當齒輪旋轉時，它迫使開關迅速與天線接觸並斷開。

quickly changing the amplitude of the reflected signal.

迅速改變反射信號的振幅。

The spikes and troughs in the signal can be used to represent 1s and 0s, and voila,

信號中的尖峰和谷底可以用來代表1和0，就可以了。

a 3D printed Wi-Fi device that uses mechanical motion instead of electricity.

一種使用機械運動代替電力的3D打印Wi-Fi設備。

Something like this could have a huge range of applications,

這樣的東西可以有很大的應用範圍。

so long as whatever it's attached to is providing that movement of the gear in some way.

只要它所連接的東西能以某種方式提供齒輪的運動。

For example, it could be connected to a flow meter where moving water or another liquid causes the gear to spin.

例如，它可以連接到流量計上，移動的水或其他液體會使齒輪旋轉。

The students used the example of something attached to a detergent bottle that detects when the bottle is running low

同學們以連接在洗滌劑瓶上的東西為例，當瓶中的洗滌劑不足時，可以檢測出瓶中的洗滌劑

and automatically signals your smartphone to order another one.

並自動向你的智能手機發出信號，讓你再點一份。

If you're not into the idea of a brand of detergent automatically restocking itself ad infinitum,

如果你不喜歡一個品牌的洗滌劑自動補貨的想法，無限期。

the flow meter could help keep your home secure.

流量計可以幫助保護您的家庭安全。

It could be used to detect if a pipe springs a leak and alert you before the water does serious and expensive damage.

它可以用來檢測管道是否發生洩漏，並在水造成嚴重和昂貴的損失之前向您發出警報。

And because the flow meter wouldn't require batteries that need to be changed, that's one less thing to worry about.

而且因為流量計不會需要更換電池，所以就少了一件擔心的事情。

The researchers' invention could also find a use in hospitals to keep drugs secure.

研究人員的發明也可以在醫院找到用武之地，保證藥品的安全。

The mechanical motion of twisting the cap off a pill bottle could be used to track when the bottle is opened.

擰開藥瓶蓋的機械運動可以用來追蹤藥瓶何時被打開。

Even if the bottle is taken out of range of the WiFi signal, the researchers have discovered a way to store data

即使瓶子被帶出WiFi信號的範圍，研究人員也發現了一種存儲數據的方法。

and then upload it with the push of a button when the bottle is in range again.

等瓶子再次進入範圍後，再按一下按鈕就可以上傳。

The researchers have created several widgets using their technology, including a button, a knob, and a slider.

研究人員利用他們的技術創造了幾個小部件，包括一個按鈕、一個旋鈕和一個滑塊。

And they've made their CAD models open source and available for free.

而且他們的CAD模型已經開源並免費提供。

If you have a 3D printer at home and the right materials for the job — like the composite plastic for the reflective antenna —

如果你家裡有一臺3D打印機，並且有合適的材料來完成這項工作--比如反射天線的複合塑膠。

you too could festoon your house with bells and whistles of buttons and switches.

你也可以用鈴鐺和哨子的按鈕和開關來裝飾你的房子。

Backscatter away, you beautiful nerds!

走開吧，你們這些美麗的書呆子！

Researchers from the University of Washington have been working on WiFi backscattering technology in one form or another

來自華盛頓大學的研究人員一直在研究WiFi反向散射技術的一種形式。

since 2014, so it seems like a safe bet they'll keep developing the idea.

自2014年以來，所以看起來他們會繼續發展這個想法，這是一個安全的賭注。

There could be a market for this technology in the future, so if one day fresh detergent bottles keep mysteriously arriving at your door

這種技術在未來可能會有市場，所以如果有一天，新鮮的洗滌劑瓶一直神祕地送到你的門前。

just when you're about to run out, you'll know why.

就在你快要跑出來的時候，你會知道為什麼。

Are you into 3D printing, and would you consider making these printed WiFi devices?

你是否喜歡3D打印，你是否會考慮製作這些打印的WiFi設備？

Let us know in the comments.

請在評論中告訴我們。

If you want to know about WiFi 6 and why it lets more devices connect to your modem,

如果你想了解WiFi 6，以及為什麼它可以讓更多的設備連接到你的調制解調器。

check out this video where I misstate the name of the IEEE and make engineers cringe.

看看這段視頻，我說錯了IEEE的名字，讓工程師們感到噁心。

Sorry about that, guys.

對不起，夥計們。

Make sure to subscribe to Seeker, and as always, thanks for watching. See you next time.

請一定要訂閱《求是》，一如既往的感謝大家的觀看。下次再見。