While flying high above Earth's surface, jet fighter pilots may suffer loss of eyesight for brief periods. Some pilots may even lose consciousness -- not being able to recognize what is happening around them. These experiences, commonly called blackouts, can lead to tragic results.
喷气式战斗机在高空飞行时可能会面临短暂失明，一些飞行员甚至可能会失去意识，无法认清身边发生的情况。这种经历通常被称之为“黑视”，它可能会导致悲剧性的结果。
Now, an Israeli company says it has developed a device that could save pilots' lives at such times.
现在，一家以色列公司表示他们开发出一种设备可以在这种时候挽救飞行员的性命。
Yaron Kranz is senior research and development director at Elbit Systems. He is also a retired fighter pilot. He says two different situations can lead to a pilot's loss of consciousness.
亚龙·克兰兹（Yaron Kranz）是埃尔比特系统有限公司（Elbit Systems）的高级研发总监。他说，有两种情况会导致飞行员丧失意识。
"One is ‘G-LOC' or G Loss of Consciousness, and the other one is hypoxia, which is lack of oxygen to the brain."
他说，“其中一种是失重引起意识丧失，另一种是大脑缺氧。”
G-LOC happens when the airplane is making a sharp turn or speeding up very quickly. During these periods, centrifugal force reduces the normal flow of blood to the pilot's brain. At high speeds, loss of control of the aircraft has proved deadly for many pilots.
失重引起意识丧失发生在飞机急转弯或急加速阶段。在此期间，离心力降低了飞行员脑部血液的正常流动。飞机在高速驾驶时失去控制已被证实对飞行员来说是致命的。
Hypoxia, or lack of oxygen, can affect anyone at extreme heights. That is why passenger planes are equipped with oxygen masks. Passengers are always told before flying to put on the masks in case of a sudden loss of air pressure.
低氧或缺氧会严重影响任何人。所以客机装备了氧气面罩。乘客在起飞前总是被告知，如果突然失压要戴上面罩。
Current devices for preventing such dangerous situations are very large. So Elbit Systems and a small start-up company, called LifeBEAM, developed a system they are calling Canary. It uses small, non-invasive sensing equipment. Yaron Kranz says the sensors are built into the helmet worn by the pilot.
目前防止这种危险情况的装置非常大。所以埃尔比特系统有限公司以及一家名为LifeBEAM的小型初创公司开发了一种他们称之为“金丝雀”的系统。它采用了小型的非侵入性传感设备。克兰兹表示，这些传感器安装在飞行员佩戴的头盔里。
"The pilot doesn't have to do anything in order to activate those sensors and they are small enough and wise enough to give the information to gather the physiological data that is required."
他说，“激活传感器无需飞行员做任何操作，它们足够小和聪明，可以发出命令收集所需的生理数据。”
By physiological data, he means information related to the processes and activities that keep the person alive. When the danger is real, the system sends a message to the visor on the front of the helmet. If it senses that the pilot has lost consciousness, it tells the plane's computer to activate the autopilot. The autopilot will then take control of the plane's movement until the pilot wakes up.
他所说的生理数据是指维持人类存活的活动和动作的有关信息。当危险来临时，该系统会向头盔前部的护目镜发送信息，如果它检测到飞行员已经失去知觉，就会命令飞机上的计算机激活自动驾驶仪。然后自动驾驶仪会控制飞机飞行直到飞行员苏醒。
Elbit Systems is now developing its Canary device for U.S. F-35 fighter jets and other aircraft.
埃尔比特系统有限公司目前正在为美国F-35战斗机和其它机型开发“金丝雀”设备。
I'm Jonathan Evans.
我是乔纳森·埃文斯。(51VOA.COM对本文翻译保留全部权利，未经授权请勿转载，违者必究！)