Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Mark Adcock

Miro Yakov Shverdin

Vlastimil Pis

Evangelos Pappas-Katsiafas

Simon Edwards-Parton

Omer Itzchak Wagner

Described herein is a computer-implemented method for registering selections of graphical elements on electronic displays using time-of-flight sensors. First sensor data that is output by a first time-of-flight sensor can be received by a computing device. The first time-of-flight sensor can be positioned in a first orientation with respect to an electronic display. A position of an object on a surface of the electronic display can be determined based at least in part on the first sensor data. A user selection of a graphical element displayed on the electronic display can be registered at the determined position.

Registering selections of graphical elements on electronic displays using time-of-flight sensors

An autonomous mobile device (AMD) moving in a physical space determines the presence of obstacles using images acquired by a stereocamera and avoids those obstacles. A floor with few visible features is difficult to characterize. The floor and any obstacles thereon may be difficult to characterize due to noise, perspective effect, and so forth. A score is determined that indicates whether a particular pixel in an image is deemed to be associated with a parallel surface (the floor) or a perpendicular surface (an obstacle). The score is computationally inexpensive to calculate and allows for highly accurate and low latency determinations as to the presence of an obstacle that would impede movement of the AMD. Orientation changes in the AMD, such as movement over a bumpy floor, are well tolerated as are floor features such as flooring transitions, ramps, and so forth which the AMD is able to traverse.

Growing community of inventors

Cambridge, United Kingdom

Mark Adcock