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A group of researchers at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory are currently engaged in an 18month study in cooperation with Autodesk Research, a 3D design software company, to design the helmet of the future. The group is investigating whether 3D printed microstructures within helmet design can absorb more of the momentum (冲力) of a collision than current helmet technology.
Usually, designers start with a concept or some general idea of what a product will look like. That isn't the case for the researchers at Lawrence Livermore. Instead, they are using Autodesk's Project Dreamcatcher software, which allows designers to input specific design objectives, including functional requirements, material type and so on, to serve up a design based on what the researchers need it to accomplish. “In some ways this is a completely new way of thinking about design，” technical researcher Eric Duoss said. The idea involves taking the same elements that make up strong, flexible structures and making them smaller. Imagine the Eiffel Tower's lattice (格子架) design, but very small.
The lab is currently testing a variety of materials to build its helmet constructed of nanosized lattice. One of the more promising elements is 3D printed silicon (硅), which could be used to replace the current foam pads that most helmets for sports use. Internal analysis has shown these silicon pads could absorb 50% more energy than a solid piece of foam. It was previously impossible to construct these formations, but an increase in 3D printer resolution has started the design innovation.
The 3D printed microarchitecture technology is mostly being researched at the university level. The scientists at Lawrence Livermore are patenting various discoveries made along the way. The lab is also considering this same technology for other applications, like bicycle helmets. “Beyond helmets, there are a lot of opportunities for 3D printed microstructural design in automotive engineering and aerospace，” Duoss said. Airplanes could be made more lightweight, for example. It's likely these helmets are still a few years off, but the organization said it expects to see its microlattice works become more common in design at large in the near future.
语篇解读：本文是一篇说明文。研究者发现3D打印的微体系结构的头盔对头部的保护作用更大，因为它有效地吸收了撞击力。
1．What do the researchers aim to do?
A．Design a better 3D printer.
B．Set up a software company.
C．Study the momentum of a collision in sports.
D．Test the performance of a new type of helmet.
解析：选D 细节理解题。根据第一段第二句可知，这组研究人员在调查3D打印的微体系结构的头盔是否能够吸收更多的冲力，即测试这种新型头盔的性能。
2．What is Paragraph 2 mainly about?
A．The researchers' source of inspiration.
B．The structure of the researchers' product.
C．The researchers' creative design concept.
D．The general description of the researchers' product.
解析：选C 段落大意题。根据第二段内容可知，本段主要说明了研究人员采用了一种新的设计思路来设计头盔，即目标驱动的设计理念，故选C。
3．Why are 3D printed silicon pads used to replace the foam ones?
A．They are much smaller in size.
B．They can be easily constructed.
C．They are widely used in sports helmets.
D．They can absorb more collision momentum.
解析：选D 细节理解题。根据第三段中的“3D printed silicon (硅) ... these silicon pads could absorb 50% more energy than a solid piece of foam”可知，3D打印的硅垫较现在的固体泡沫垫能多吸收50%的能量，故选D。
4．What can be inferred about the microarchitecture technology from the last paragraph?
A．It has gained lots of patents.
B．It will prove its value in various fields.
C．It will change the architectural design business.
D．It can bring more profits to helmet manufacturers.
解析：选B 推理判断题。根据最后一段第一句及“this same technology for other applications ... engineering and aerospace ...”可知，这项技术将会被应用在多个领域。
