Abstract: A tile including circuitry for use with machine learning models, the tile including: a first computational array of cells, in which the computational array of cells is a sub-array of a larger second computational array of cells; local memory coupled to the first computational array of cells; and multiple controllable bus lines, in which a first subset of the multiple controllable bus lines include multiple general purpose controllable bus lines couplable to the local memory.

Abstract: Implementations relate to detecting/replacing transient obstructions from high-elevation digital images. A digital image of a geographic area includes pixels that align spatially with respective geographic units of the geographic area. Analysis of the digital image may uncover obscured pixel(s) that align spatially with geographic unit(s) of the geographic area that are obscured by transient obstruction(s). Domain fingerprint(s) of the obscured geographic unit(s) may be determined across pixels of a corpus of digital images that align spatially with the one or more obscured geographic units. Unobscured pixel(s) of the same/different digital image may be identified that align spatially with unobscured geographic unit(s) of the geographic area. The unobscured geographic unit(s) also may have domain fingerprint(s) that match the domain fingerprint(s) of the obscured geographic unit(s).

Abstract: Techniques are provided to estimate of location or position of objects that are depicted in an image of a scene. Some implementations include obtaining an image of a scene; identifying an object within the image of the scene; obtaining a three-dimensional model that corresponds to the object that was identified within the image of the scene, the three-dimensional model being obtained from the database of three-dimensional models; determining, based on data from the three-dimensional model, an estimated depth of the object within the scene; generating or updating a three-dimensional representation of the scene based at least on the estimated depth of the object within the scene; and providing the three-dimensional representation of the scene, including at least a portion of the three-dimensional representation of the scene that was generated or updated based on the three-dimensional model of the object, to the scene analyzer.

Abstract: Implementations are described herein are directed to reconciling disparate orientations of multiple vision sensors deployed on a mobile robot (or other mobile vehicle) by altering orientations of the vision sensors or digital images they generate. In various implementations, this reconciliation may be performed with little or no ground truth knowledge of movement of the robot. Techniques described herein also avoid the use of visual indicia of known dimensions and/or other conventional tools for determining vision sensor orientations. Instead, techniques described herein allow vision sensor orientations to be determined and/or reconciled using less resources, and are more scalable than conventional techniques.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide for a method of forming a communication link between two communication devices using a primary search pattern and a secondary search pattern. A misalignment between a first optical system of a first communication device and a second optical system of a second communication device is detected. The first optical system is rotated according to the primary search pattern, and the second optical system according to the secondary search pattern. At the second communication device, a set of frames is captured. Then, it is determined whether a beacon beam transmitted from the first communication device is detected in the one or more of the captured frames. When it is determined that the beacon beam is detected, the communication link is formed between the first communication device and the second communication device.

Abstract: An example system includes a patterned light projector operable to direct first and second portions of patterned light toward first and second surfaces, respectively, in an environment. The first and second surfaces may be at first and second distances, respectively, from the structured light projector. A graduated optical filter may be situated along an optical path of the patterned light. The graduated optical filter includes first and second regions to attenuate an intensity of the first and second portions of the patterned light, respectively, by first and second amounts, respectively. The first amount is greater than the second amount. The system additionally includes an image sensor operable to generate image data based on at least the first and second portions of the patterned light and a processor configured to determine first and second values indicative of an estimate of the first and second distances, respectively, based on the image data.

Abstract: A multi-channel photonic demultiplexer includes an input region to receive a multi-channel optical signal including four distinct wavelength channels, four output regions, each adapted to receive a corresponding one of the four distinct wavelength channels demultiplexed from the multi-channel optical signal, and a dispersive region optically disposed between the input region and the four output regions. The dispersive region includes a first material and a second material inhomogeneously interspersed to form a plurality of interfaces that each correspond to a change in refractive index of the dispersive region and collectively structure the dispersive region to optically separate each of the four distinct wavelength channels from the multi-channel optical signal and respectively guide each of the four distinct wavelength channels to the corresponding one of the four output regions.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium for predicting object pose. In one aspect, a method includes receiving an image of an object having one or more feature points; providing the image as an input to a neural network subsystem trained to receive images of objects and to generate an output including a heat map for each feature point; applying a differentiable transformation on each heat map to generate respective one or more feature coordinates for each feature point; providing the feature coordinates for each feature point as input to an object pose solver configured to compute a predicted object pose for the object, wherein the predicted object pose for the object specifies a position and an orientation of an object; and receiving, at the output of the object pose solver, a predicted object pose for the object in the image.

Abstract: A system to optically measure an ear includes a controller with logic that when executed by the controller causes the system to perform operations. Operations may include capturing the one or more images of the ear using the one or more image sensors, and generating image data from the one or more images. 3D keypoints of the ear are calculated from the image data, and a 3D model of the ear is generated using the 3D keypoints.

Abstract: Systems and methods for efficient coupling to low-loss eigenmodes of a spherical waveguide bounded by the Earth's surface and its ionosphere from multiple locations within the waveguide are disclosed. One or more eigenmodes of the Earth-ionosphere waveguide may be computed based on a mathematical model incorporating electrical properties of the terrestrial surface and plasma physics of the ionospheric layer. Multiple wave guide couplers, each including an array of electrically-connected waveguide-coupling elements, may be configured at different geographic locations for coupling to the one or more eigenmodes. By adjusting relative phases and/or amplitudes of the waveguide couplers, as well as frequencies, power may be coupled into standing waves of the Earth-ionosphere waveguide. The adjustments may also account or compensate for diurnal variations of ionosphere by steering power nodes and nulls of the standing waves away from regions of potential ohmic losses.

Abstract: One method disclosed includes determining a map of markers fixed in an environment, where the map of markers includes a location and an orientation of each marker. The method further includes determining locations of a set of detected markers relative to the map based on a location of a robotic device relative to the map and based on sensor data from the robotic device. The method also includes associating a detected marker from the set of detected markers with a mapped marker based on the determined location of the detected marker relative to the map and based on a visibility constraint related to the orientation of the mapped marker. The method additionally includes adjusting, in the map, the orientation of the mapped marker based on the determined location of the detected marker relative to the map.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems, and computer-readable media are provided for generating spatial affordances for an object, in an environment of a robot, and utilizing the generated spatial affordances in one or more robotics applications directed to the object. Various implementations relate to applying vision data as input to a trained machine learning model, processing the vision data using the trained machine learning model to generate output defining one or more spatial affordances for an object captured by the vision data, and controlling one or more actuators of a robot based on the generated output. Various implementations additionally or alternatively relate to training such a machine learning model.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting low-loss eigenmodes of a spherical waveguide bounded by the Earth's surface and its ionosphere are disclosed. One or more eigenmodes of the Earth-ionosphere waveguide may be computed based on a mathematical model incorporating electrical properties of the terrestrial surface and plasma physics of the ionospheric layer. A transmitter apparatus may be used transmit electrical power into the Earth-ionosphere waveguide in the form of an electromagnetic wave, which may, in turn, be detected by a receiver apparatus remote from the transmitter apparatus. A coupling strength between the transmitted electromagnetic wave and the one or more eigenmodes may be determined by measuring power received by the receiver apparatus in the detected electromagnetic wave.

Abstract: An optical communication system includes an optical transmitter and one or more processors. The optical transmitter is configured to output an optical signal, and includes an average-power-limited optical amplifier, such as an erbium-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA). The one or more processors are configured to receive optical signal data related to a received power for a communication link from a remote communication system and determine that the optical signal data is likely to fall below a minimum received power within a time interval. In response to the determination, the one or more processors are configured to determine a duty cycle of the optical transmitter based on a minimum on-cycle length and a predicted EDFA output power and operate the optical transmitter using the determined duty cycle to transmit an on-cycle power that is no less than the minimum required receiver power for error-free operation of the communication link.

Abstract: An optical device that includes: a base layer; a first region supported by the base layer, the first region including a first plurality of quantum-confined nanostructures and having a first density of quantum-confined nanostructures; a second region supported by the base layer, the first and second regions being non-overlapping regions, the second region having a second density of quantum-confined nanostructures lower than the first density; and an optical confinement structure supported by the base layer and configured to guide at least one transverse optical mode between a first end and a second end of the optical confinement structure. The first region substantially overlaps with the at least one transverse optical mode, and the first density varies across a cross-section of the optical device.

Abstract: The disclosure provides for a method for reacquiring a communication link between a first communication device and a second communication device. The method includes using one or more processors of the first communication device to receive historical data related to the first communication device and an environment surrounding the first communication device. The one or more processors are then used to determine one or more trends in the historical data related to fading of the communication link. Based on the one or more trends, the one or more processors are used to determine a starting time and an initial search direction for a search for the communication link. The one or more processors then execute the search at the starting time from the initial search direction.

Abstract: After running a simulation on a biological cell, a simulation system displays a circular viewer for presenting simulation data. The circular viewer is a graphical element which contains a plurality of circular graphical elements, wherein each circular graphical element displays simulation data of one biological category ordered around the circular graphical element. Responsive to a user input, the circular viewer updates the circular graphical elements to visually indicate subsets of simulation data in each graphical element that are above a threshold differential from a baseline cell state of the biological cell. The circular viewer may additionally display connectors linking portions of simulation data from different circular graphical elements. Moreover, the circular viewer may update to display simulation data in the circular graphical elements over a plurality of time steps over which the simulation has occurred.

Abstract: One method disclosed includes identifying, in a map of markers fixed in an environment, two co-located markers within a threshold distance of each other, where each of the two co-located markers has a non-overlapping visibility region. The method further includes determining a set of detected markers based on sensor data from a robotic device. The method additionally includes identifying, from the set of detected markers, a detected marker proximate to a first marker of the two co-located markers. The method also includes enforcing a visibility constraint based on the non-overlapping visibility region of each of the two co-located markers to determine an association between the detected marker and a second marker of the two co-located markers. The method further includes determining a location of the robotic device in the environment relative to the map based on the determined association.

Abstract: In embodiments, acquiring sensor data associated with a plant growing in a field, and analyzing the sensor data to extract, while in the field, one or more phenotypic traits associated with the plant from the sensor data. Indexing, while in the field, the one or more phenotypic traits to one or both of an identifier of the plant or a virtual representation of a part of the plant, and determining one or more plant insights based on the one or more phenotypic traits, wherein the one or more plant insights includes information about one or more of a health, a yield, a planting, a growth, a harvest, a management, a performance, and a state of the plant. One or more of the health, yield, planting, growth, harvest, management, performance, and the state of the plant are included in a plant insights report that is generated.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are various wireless power electropermanent magnets and related systems and devices, including handheld wands for activating and deactivating wireless power electropermanent magnets, and coupling and locking mechanisms utilizing wireless power electropermanent magnets.