Project description
Novel neuromorphic chip technology to support learning at multiple timescales
Neuromorphic computing is an umbrella term given to a variety of efforts to build computation emulating the neural structure of the human brain. The EU-funded MeM-Scales project will work on the development of an innovative platform that will serve as a basis for future products combining extreme power efficiency with human cognition capabilities. The focus will be on building novel memory and device technologies, and autonomous learning algorithms that support on-chip learning over multiple timescales, for both synapses and neurons. This new kind of computing technology has the potential for use in advancing distributed environmental monitoring, implantable medical diagnostic microchips, wearable electronics and human-computer interaction.
Objective
"The project MeM-Scales aims at lifting neuromorphic computing in analog spiking microprocessors to an entirely new level of performance. Work in this project is based on a dedicated commitment that novel hardware and novel computational concepts must be co-evolved in a close interaction between nano-electronic device engineering, circuit and microprocessor design, fabrication technology and computing science (machine learning and nonlinear modeling). A key to reflecting ""hardware physics"" in ""computational function"" and vice versa is the fundamental role played by multiple timescales. Here MeM-Scales introduces a number of innovations. On the side of physical substrates, novel memory and device technologies, supporting on-chip learning over multiple timescales for both synapses and neurons, will be fabricated. To enable timescales spanning up to 9 (!) orders of magnitude both volatile memory and non-volatile memory as well as Thin Film Transistor technology will be exploited. On the side of computational theory, autonomous learning algorithms and architectures supporting computation over these wide range of timescales will be developed. These computational methods are specifically tailored to cope with the low numerical precision, parameter drift, stochasticity, and device mismatch which are inherent in analog nano-scale devices. These cross-disciplinary efforts will lead to the fabrication of an innovative hardware/software platform as a basis for future products which combine extreme power efficiency with robust cognitive computing capabilities. This new kind of computing technology will open new perspectives, for instance, for high-dimensional distributed environmental monitoring, implantable medical diagnostic microchips, wearable electronics or human-computer interfacing."
Fields of science
- natural sciencescomputer and information sciencessoftware
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringcomputer hardwarecomputer processors
- natural sciencescomputer and information sciencescomputational science
- engineering and technologymaterials engineeringcoating and films
- natural sciencescomputer and information sciencesartificial intelligencemachine learning
Keywords
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
RIA - Research and Innovation actionCoordinator
75015 PARIS 15
France