Abstract: An automated checkout system modifies received images of machine-readable labels to improve the performance of a label detection model that the system uses to decode item identifiers encoded in the machine-readable labels. For example, the automated checkout system may transform subregions of an image of a machine-readable label to adjust for distortions in the image's depiction of the machine-readable label. Similarly, the automated checkout system may identify readable regions within received images of machine-readable labels and apply a label detection model to those readable regions. By modifying received images of machine-readable labels, these techniques improve on existing computer-vision technologies by allowing for the effective decoding of machine-readable labels based on real-world images using relatively clean training data.

Abstract: Among other things, embodiments of the present disclosure can help to automatically generate images displaying activity-based information and distribute such images to other users, such as members of a social network. The image may be modified based on activity data associated with other users and/or from other activity sensors.

Abstract: This invention discloses a process for preparing rare earth containing hard alloy, comprising preparing metal carbide powder containing rare earth metals or cobalt powder containing rare earth metals by using wet coprecipitating method; according to the composition of alloy, at least one kind of the metal carbide powder containing rare earth metal and cobalt powder containing rare metals being mixed homogeneously with other raw materials, shaping and finally sintering under high temperature. The process of the invention is simple technologically. The properties of the products produced by the process of the invention are good, stable and repeatable.