Abstract: A robot that uses sensor inputs for attention activation and corresponding methods, systems, and computer programs encoded on computer storage media. The robot can be configured to compute a plurality of attention signals from sensor inputs and provide the plurality of attention signals as input to the attention level classifier to generate an attention level. If a user is paying attention to the robot based on the generated attention level, the robot selects a behavior to execute based on the current attention level, wherein a behavior comprises one or more coordinated actions to be performed by the robot.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for using character-driven robots and other agents for volunteer computing and other unengaged time computing tasks. One of the robots is configured to execute instructions that cause the robot to receive one or more sensor inputs from one or more sensor subsystems. From the one or more sensor inputs, a prediction representing a likelihood of one or more users engaging with the robot over a particular subsequent time period is computed. If the computed prediction indicates that the robot is in an unengaged state, the robot selects one or more unengaged time computing tasks and performs the selected one or more unengaged time computing tasks.

Abstract: A apparatus, e.g., a robot, that uses sensor inputs and physical actions to disambiguate terms in natural language commands and corresponding methods, systems, and computer programs encoded on computer storage media. A robot can receive a natural language command from a user having an ambiguous term that references a location or an entity in an environment of the robot. A user location indicator is identified from one or more sensor inputs. A location within the environment of the robot is computed using the location indicator identified from the one or more sensor inputs. Resolution data is computed using the computed location, wherein the resolution data resolves the reference of the ambiguous term. One or more actions are generated using the natural language command and the resolved reference of the ambiguous term, and the robot can execute the one or more actions.

Abstract: A robot that uses sensor inputs for attention activation and corresponding methods, systems, and computer programs encoded on computer storage media. The robot can be configured to compute a plurality of attention signals from sensor inputs and provide the plurality of attention signals as input to the attention level classifier to generate an attention level. If a user is paying attention to the robot based on the generated attention level, the robot selects a behavior to execute based on the current attention level, wherein a behavior comprises one or more coordinated actions to be performed by the robot.

Abstract: Exemplary methods, apparatuses, and systems receive first and second sets of command tracks, each set including one or more command tracks and each command track directed to control a component of a robot. In response to detecting that a first command track within the first set is directed to control a first component of the robot to perform a first action and a second command track within the second set is directed to control the first component of the robot to perform a second action, the first and second command tracks are merged into a composite command track. The composite command track is executed, causing the first component of the robot to perform the first action while performing the second action.

Abstract: Exemplary methods, apparatuses, and systems generate an object in a portion of an electronic display. The object is generated as a shape formed by a pattern of a first plurality of pixels being illuminated for a first sequence of frames and a second plurality of pixels not being illuminated for the first sequence of frames. During the first sequence of frames, each set of illuminated pixels from the first plurality of pixels is separated from another set of illuminated pixels by a set of non-illuminated pixels of the second plurality of pixels. In response to an event, the object in the portion of the electronic display is generated by illuminating pixels of the second plurality of pixels for a second sequence of frames and not illuminating pixels within the first plurality of pixels for the second sequence of frames.

Abstract: In a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an automated, computerized method is provided for processing an image. According to a feature of the present invention, the method comprises the steps of providing an image file depicting an image, in a computer memory, identifying shadow edges in the image, computing gradient information for the image and modifying the gradient information relative to the shadow edges for improved performance of computer functionality in an image processing operation.

Abstract: A soft, weighted constraint imposed upon image locations can be used to provide a more accurate segregation of an image into intrinsic material reflectance and illumination components. The constraint is arranged to constrain all color band variations between the image locations into one integral constraining relationship.

Abstract: A soft, weighted constraint imposed upon image locations can be used to provide a more accurate segregation of an image into intrinsic material reflectance and illumination components. The constraint is arranged to constrain all color band variations between the image locations into one integral constraining relationship.

Abstract: A soft, weighted constraint imposed upon image locations can be used to provide a more accurate segregation of an image into intrinsic material reflectance and illumination components. The constraint is arranged to constrain all color band variations between the image locations into one integral constraining relationship.

Abstract: A platinumware holder includes a crucible holder in which the crucibles are laterally staggered and a mold rack in which the molds are vertically staggered. In some embodiments, the crucibles have a non-circular cross section.

Abstract: An automated, computerized method is provided for processing an image. The method comprises the steps of providing a sequence of image files depicting images of a same scene, in a computer memory, determining correspondence information relevant to the same scene across the sequence of images, and generating individual intrinsic images for each one of the sequence of images, as a function of the correspondence information.

Abstract: Multiple sets include multiple scale-spaced pyramids representing each of the image and selected characteristics of the image relevant to the identification of the illumination and material aspects of the image.

Abstract: A soft, weighted constraint imposed upon image locations can be used to provide a more accurate segregation of an image into intrinsic material reflectance and illumination components. The constraint is arranged to constrain all color band variations between the image locations into one integral constraining relationship.

Abstract: A method and system comprising image processing techniques is provided that utilize spatio-spectral information relevant to an image, derived from multiple sets of selectively varied representations of the image to accurately and correctly identify illumination and material aspects of the image. In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a scale-spaced pyramid arrangement is provided to preserve the purity of color from scale to scale, to insure accuracy in the identification of illumination and material aspects of the image.

Abstract: In a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an automated, computerized method is provided for processing an image. According to a feature of the present invention, the method comprises the steps of providing an image file depicting an image, in a computer memory, providing a multi-class classifier trained to identify edges in an image relative to computer actions to be taken in respect to the respective edges, determined as a function of illumination effects in the image and utilizing the multi-class classifier to classify edges in the image, for identification of computer actions to be taken in respect to the edges in the image.

Abstract: Systems and methods for disseminating information pertaining to a reference material or certified reference material are disclosed. In one embodiment, the system includes the certified reference material and a package containing same, the package comprising a storage medium that stores an information product in a machine-readable format, the information product comprising either a pointer to certified analysis data or the certified analysis data itself. In one embodiment, the method comprises adding a quantity of a certified reference material to a package, incorporating, on the package, a storage medium for storing the information product, and encoding the information product in the storage medium.

Abstract: In a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an automated, computerized method is provided for processing an image. According to a feature of the present invention, the method comprises the steps of providing an image represented in a spatial plane, organizing spatio-spectral information for the image in a matrix equation expressed by normal and tangential constraints determined as a function of a spatial orientation of selected image locations, relative to the spatial plane of the image and utilizing the matrix equation to solve for an intrinsic image corresponding to the image.

Abstract: In a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an automated, computerized method is provided for processing an image. According to a feature of the present invention, the method comprises the steps of providing an image file depicting an image, in a computer memory, calculating processing scale parameter information as a function of width dimension information for penumbrae depicted in the image; and generating intrinsic illumination and material reflectance images corresponding to the image using the processing scale parameter information.

Abstract: In a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an automated, computerized method is provided for processing an image. According to a feature of the present invention, the method comprises the steps of providing an image file depicting an image defined by image locations, in a computer memory, generating a bi-illuminant chromaticity plane in a log color space for representing the image locations of the image in a log-chromaticity representation for the image, providing a set of estimates for the orientation of the bi-illuminant chromaticity plane and calculating an orientation for each one of the image locations as a function of the set of estimates for the orientation.