Patents by Inventor BOSHEN NIU

BOSHEN NIU has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11927963
    Abstract: A physical space contains stationary objects that do not move over time (e.g., a couch) and may have non-stationary objects that do move over time (e.g., people and pets). An autonomous mobile device (AMD) determines and uses an occupancy map of stationary objects to find a route from one point to another in a physical space. Non-stationary objects are detected and prevented from being incorrectly added to the occupancy map. Point cloud data is processed to determine first candidate objects. Image data is processed to determine second candidate objects. These candidate objects are associated with each other and their characteristics assessed to determine if the candidate objects are stationary or non-stationary. The occupancy map is updated with stationary obstacles. During navigation, the occupancy map may be used for route planning while the non-stationary objects are used for local avoidance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Shreekant Gayaka, Boshen Niu, Simon Edwards-Parton
  • Patent number: 11797022
    Abstract: An autonomous mobile device (AMD) may move around a physical space while performing tasks. Sensor data is used to determine an occupancy map of the physical space. Some objects within the physical space may be difficult to detect because of characteristics that result in lower confidence in sensor data, such as transparent or reflective objects. To include difficult-to-detect objects in the occupancy map, image data is processed to identify portions of the image that includes features associated with difficult-to-detect objects. Given the portion that possibly includes difficult-to-detect objects, the AMD attempts to determine where in the physical space that portion corresponds to. For example, the AMD may use stereovision to determine the physical area associated with the features depicted in the portion. Objects in that area are included in an occupancy map annotated as objects that should persist unless confirmed to not be within the physical space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Inventors: James Ballantyne, Eric Foxlin, Lu Xia, Simon Edwards-Parton, Boshen Niu, Harish Annavajjala
  • Publication number: 20220300001
    Abstract: A physical space contains stationary objects that do not move over time (e.g., a couch) and may have non-stationary objects that do move over time (e.g., people and pets). An autonomous mobile device (AMD) determines and uses an occupancy map of stationary objects to find a route from one point to another in a physical space. Non-stationary objects are detected and prevented from being incorrectly added to the occupancy map. Point cloud data is processed to determine first candidate objects. Image data is processed to determine second candidate objects. These candidate objects are associated with each other and their characteristics assessed to determine if the candidate objects are stationary or non-stationary. The occupancy map is updated with stationary obstacles. During navigation, the occupancy map may be used for route planning while the non-stationary objects are used for local avoidance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2021
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Inventors: SHREEKANT GAYAKA, BOSHEN NIU, SIMON EDWARDS-PARTON