Amazon.com

About: Amazon.com is a company organization based out in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Computer science & Service (business). The organization has 13363 authors who have published 17317 publications receiving 266589 citations.

Interactive interfaces for machine learning model evaluations

Abstract: A first data set corresponding to an evaluation run of a model is generated at a machine learning service for display via an interactive interface. The data set includes a prediction quality metric. A target value of an interpretation threshold associated with the model is determined based on a detection of a particular client's interaction with the interface. An indication of a change to the prediction quality metric that results from the selection of the target value may be initiated.

Multi-use UAV docking station systems and methods

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a series of multiuse UAV docking stations are disclosed. The docking stations can be networked with a central control and a plurality of UAVs. The docking stations can include a number of services to facilitate both UAV guidance and maintenance and community acceptance and benefits. The docking stations can include package handling facilities and can act as a final destination or as a delivery hub. The docking stations can extend the range of UAVs by providing recharging/refueling stations for the UAVs. The docking stations can also include navigational aid to guide the UAVs to the docking stations and to provide routing information from the central control. The docking stations can be incorporated into existing structures such as cell towers, light and power poles, and buildings. The docking stations can also comprise standalone structures to provide additional services to underserved areas.

System for managing and scheduling containers

Abstract: A system and method for a container service that obtains a software image of a software container that has been configured to be executed within a computer system instance registered to a cluster by one or more processors. The container service is configured to receive a request to launch the software image in accordance with a task definition, wherein the task definition specifies an allocation of resources for the software container. The container service may then determine, according to a placement scheme, a subset of a set of container instances registered to the cluster in which to launch the software image in accordance with the task definition. Upon determining the subset of the set of container instances, the container service may launch the software image as one or more running software containers in the set of container instances in accordance with the task definition.

Brazil's Balbina Dam: Environment versus the legacy of the Pharaohs in Amazonia

Abstract: The Balbina Dam in Brazil's state of Amazonas floods 2360 km2 of tropical forest to generate an average of only 112.2 MW of electricity. The flat topography and small size of the drainage basin make output small. Vegetation has been left to decompose in the reservoir, resulting in acidic, anoxic water that will corrode the turbines. The shallow reservoir contains 1500 islands and innumerable stagnant bays where the water's residence time will be even longer than the average time of over one year. Balbina was built to supply electricity to Manaus, a city that has grown so much while the dam was under construction that other alternatives are already needed. Government subsidies explain the explosive growth, including Brazil's unified tariff for electricity. Alternative power sources for Manaus include transmission from more distant dams or from recently discovered oil and natural gas deposits. Among Balbina's impacts are loss of potential use of the forest and displacement of about one third of the surviving members of a much-persecuted Amerindian tribe: the Waimiri-Atroari. The dam was closed on 1 October 1987 and the first of five generators began operation in February 1989. The example of Balbina points to important ways that the decision-making process could be improved in Brazil and in the international funding agencies that have directly and indirectly contributed to the project. Environmental impact analyses must be completed prior to decisions on overall project implementation and must be free of influence from project proponents. The current environmental impact assessment system in Brazil, as in many other countries, has an undesirable influence on science policy, in addition to failing to address the underlying causes of environmentally destructive development processes and inability to halt “irreversible” projects like Balbina.

Managing use of intermediate destination computing nodes for provided computer networks

Abstract: Techniques are described for providing managed computer networks. In some situations, the techniques include managing communications for computing nodes of a managed computer network by using one or more particular computing nodes of the managed computer network that are configured to operate as intermediate destinations to handle at least some communications that are sent by and/or directed to one or more other computing nodes of the managed computer network. For example, a manager module associated with a source computing node may select one or more particular intermediate destination computing nodes to use for one or more particular communications from the source computing node to an indicated final destination, such as based on a configured logical network topology for the managed computer network. The manager module then forwards those communications to a first of the selected intermediate destination computing nodes for further handling.