Story & Comic by Xiao Jiangnan The Mysterious Glacier Battle
The Mysterious Glacier Battle Story & Comic by Xiao Jiangnan
Green Shadow (Penelopea) Solar Flare Citron Bloomerang Imitater Iceberg Lettuce Fire Gourd Wall-nut The main characters
Robbie Ice-breaking Robot Beluga Drone Ski Zombie Chief Ice Wind Zombie Cave Zombie Glacier Exploration Robot Underwater Glacier Robot Manned Submersible
Foreword Robots have become the unique technical symbols, cultural landscapes and symbolic objects of the modern society. They are not only technological products but also the important outcome of the transformation of mankind’s production and lifestyle. The intelligentization and biochemical imitation of robots is a new topic that we encounter in the post-industrial era. Nowadays, the development of robotics technology is getting more attention. People even think that it can lead the development of future industries. The research on Cognitive Systems and Robotics was drafted in the European Union’s 7th Framework Programme (FP7). The United States launched the National Robotics Initiative program. Japan and South Korea have also developed corresponding research plans for service robots. China’s State High-Tech Development Program (863 Program), National Natural Science Foundation, National Science and Technology Major Project and other major programs have also greatly emphasised on the study of robotics. Driven by technologies such as computers and networks, robotics is developing rapidly from conventional industrial manufacture to various fields such as medical services, edutainment, exploration and surveillance, bio-engineering and disaster relief. The robotic systems that adapt to the needs in different fields are further developed. Of course, compared to the goals preset by humans, the research and application of robotics still encounter enormous challenges. This book unveils the mystery of robots to students via an exciting comic story. Moreover, the book provides a lot of knowledge about robots. The book also introduces the research progress of industrial robots, service robots, medical and rehabilitation robots, mobile and biomimetic robots. It helps us to know that robots are not just cold machines but also individuals that are close to us. The book also covers the counter-control of highly intelligent robots against humans, threats of the Internet to human security and ethical rules of robotic wars. It reveals the alienation that may be caused by the proliferation of technology and opens up a new aspect of “technical ethnics”. Nobel Physics Prize laureate Hideki Yukawa (1907-1981) made this critical statement about the illusion of science and technology: “A new discovery can bring happiness and prosperity. It can also lead to the loss and destruction of humanity”. The rapid development of robotics knowledge is an opportunity for human development. It may also be a crisis that mankind would encounter in future. This is related to our real understanding of the definition of “humans”. We hope that the future developments of robots will be able to meet the demands of science and technology as well as the value of research. We also pray that they are not only limited to solitary skills but also advocate humanistic care and technological ethics in this field. The robots provide the humans with a broader imagination and space for creation. In future, the robots will become smarter and more amazing. The computer technology and artificial intelligence technology will become more advanced. The development in the field of robotics awaits everyone to imagine and discover. So let’s read the book and embark on an amazing journey into the world of robots! Zhao Liang PhD supervisor University of Technology Sydney, Australia
Contents The Chase in the Heat Wave ..........6 The Secret in the Cave .............22 Going to Antarctica .................38 Visitor of the Ice Palace...........52 Treasure Hunting Tour...............68 The Missing Scientist ...............80 Danger in the Ross Ice Shelf .........94 The Ore and the Monster ...........108 Underwater Fright .................120 The Battle against the “Big Eater”...132 Robots Encyclopaedia ..............150 Glossary..........................158
At Plants Heroes Association Headquarters It’s so hot. Can you make the air con cooler? It’s in the super cool mode already. The Chase in the Heat Wave 6
It’s so hot in the beginning of summer. The dog days1 must be even more terrible. Fire Gourd is so calm. He never complains about the heat since this morning. That’s because he FAINTED due to the heat. Ring Ring 7
Incoming mission! He’ll wake up once he has something to do. Hello, yes. Alright. Citron invited us to the power station to see their new robot! Let’s go! Didn’t he faint just now? Ring Ring Ring 8
Yeah, but the work of the Heroes Association is too dangerous. I’m afraid he’ll get injured. Overprotection will limit his growth. Isn’t it a He’s so good sign? hardworking. You’re overprotective. Look! He injures himself once he goes out! Heat wave Dong incoming 9
Look, there’s a robot over there! Warning! High temperature! Warning! High temperature! Why is the power station equipped with such a robot? This is our new product called the glacier exploration robot. It’s a long story. At Plant Town Power Station 10
Our town uses the conventional thermal power generation. Wow! How does it work? This method requires the combustion of a large amount of fossil fuel such as coal. But coal combustion creates pollutants such as smoke and dust. So we developed the glacier exploration robot. We’re going to send it to Antarctica to search for energy-efficient and lowemission energy sources. It is equipped with detection radar. The radio waves emitted by the radar can penetrate2 the ice layer to detect its thickness and the material under it. This robot is also equipped with solar panels which can be fully powered by solar energy. It can be controlled within a certain range by researchers and expedition3 personnel4 through the built-in radio equipment. 11
Wow! Robots can go to other planets too? Amazing! Did the robot find any new energy source yet? At present, scientists are studying how to turn it to a robot that can operate in low temperature environments on other planets. Fossil? After examination, the material wrapped in the fossil has a history of two million years. But it found a strange fossil yesterday. No, not yet. 12
© 2023 Electronic Arts Inc. Plants vs. Zombies is a trademark of Electronic Arts Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED First Printed March 2023 Plants vs. Zombies 2•Robots Comic: The Mysterious Glacier Battle Text and Comic © Xiao Jiangnan First published in China by China Children’s Press and Publication Group Co., Ltd This edition is published under licence by China Children’s Press and Publication Group Co., Ltd for sales in Malaysia and Singapore only and may not be bought for exports. Plants vs. Zombies 2: Robots Comic - The Mysterious Glacier Battle Story & Comic by | Xiao Jiangnan Layout by | Liong Ci En, Tham Meow Yoke Translated by | Yap Fwee Yi Edited by | Anthony Chan Yew Choong Published by | G.Apple Studio Sdn. Bhd. 200001014479 (517085-P) Endah Parade Shopping Mall Lot 3-055, 3rd Floor, 1, Jalan 1/149E, Taman Sri Endah, Bandar Baru Sri Petaling, 57000 Kuala Lumpur. Distributed by | United Publishing House (M) Sdn. Bhd. 197301001175 (14620-K) (A wholly-owned subsidiary of Sasbadi Holdings Berhad) Endah Parade Shopping Mall Lot 3-055, 3rd Floor, 1, Jalan 1/149E, Taman Sri Endah, Bandar Baru Sri Petaling, 57000 Kuala Lumpur. Tel: 03-9054 7272 Fax: 03-9054 7273 Email: [email protected] Website: www.uph.com.my Printed by | Vivar Printing Sdn. Bhd. 198401012551 (125107-D) Lot 25, Rawang Intergrated Industrial Park, Jalan Batu Arang, 48000 Rawang, Selangor. If there are problems of missing or torn pages, kindly return to the distributor for replacement. Cataloguing-in-Publication Data Perpustakaan Negara Malaysia A catalogue record for this book is available from the National Library of Malaysia ISBN 978-967-0039-22-0
Introducing new characters Scientist E.M.Peach goes missing mysteriously and the research of a new energy source becomes a mystery in Plant Town. The Plants Heroes go to Antarctica to seek answers for this mystery but are they able to solve it? Is the mysterious “exotic ore” the legendary new energy source or a “robotic monster” that threatens everyone’s life? What kind of role do the underwater glacier robot, ice-breaking robot and polar roaming spherical robot play in the Antarctic expedition? And what kind of adventure do they bring? Let’s read the book and find out the mystery together! RM17.50 SB/SWK RM18.50 S’PORE $10.00 CD 6057 Solar Flare Green Shadow © 2023 Electronic Arts Inc. Plants vs. Zombies is a trademark of Electronic Arts Inc. Cutting-edge technology Artificial intelligence Future world Funny and interesting 200001014479 : unitedpublishinghouse 9 789670 039220 ISBN 978-967-0039-22-0