CAREER: Evolvable Hardware Neuromorphic Computational Devices for Sensing and Control

职业：用于传感和控制的可进化硬件神经形态计算设备

• 批准号: 0238200
• 负责人: John Gallagher
• 金额: $ 48.16万
• 依托单位: Wright State University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2003
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2003-06-15 至 2009-05-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0238200&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: CAREER; Evolvable; Hardware; Neuromorphic; Computational

This is a Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) award. The research portion of the work will develop a single, general Evolvable Hardware (EH) framework that allows for the creation of self-designing, self-configuring computational devices usable across a variety of application areas. EH seeks to create self-designing computational machines, especially those capable of exploiting design principles outside of conventionally understood engineering techniques, and self-configuring devices capable of automatically adapting as a problem domain changes. The generality of the framework will be demonstrated by using it to evolve devices to address problems drawn from several traditional computer science areas.The research plan focuses on the development of a general framework for the evolution of practical neuromorphic computational devices as well as the development of specialized VLSI chips to embody those devices. The framework will be applied to generate novel neuromorphic devices to address problems in control (jet engine combustion stabilization) and pattern recognition (active sensing for machine olfaction). By combining evolutionary learning and analog neuromorphic computing on the same chip, the project aims to deliver controllers that can adapt and improve while in service. The education plan for this project is based on the idea that professional practice requires both a strong command of theory and the skill to apply theory to solve problems of practical import. As such, engineering practice is best learned with the assistance of a mentor who can provide both theoretical knowledge and practical coaching. The educational activities are geared toward fostering mentor/student relationships among faculty, graduate students, undergraduate students, and members of the general public outside the university community. These activities will be designed to integrate research into the undergraduate and graduate curriculums, to encourage students to pursue advanced degrees in computer science and engineering, and to educate the general public in the advantages of supporting computer science and engineering research in general.This CAREER award recognizes and supports the early career-development activities of a teacher-scholar who is likely to become an academic leader of the twenty-first century. The research will have broader impacts in addition to the educational benefits. Self-designing computational machines would be of enormous value both as tools in their own right and as generators of new design principles to be exploited by humans. Self-configuring devices would be invaluable in autonomous situations where they needed to remain in service for long periods of time or in environments where human adjustment was not practical. This research aims to establish the generality of the Evolvable Hardware framework, to provide immediately useful computational devices, and to expand basic scientific knowledge.

这是一个教师早期职业发展（CAREER）奖。 这项工作的研究部分将开发一个单一的，通用的可进化硬件（EH）框架，允许创建可在各种应用领域使用的自设计，自配置计算设备。 EH旨在创建自设计计算机器，特别是那些能够利用传统工程技术之外的设计原理的机器，以及能够自动适应问题域变化的自配置设备。 该框架的通用性将通过使用它来发展设备来解决来自几个传统计算机科学领域的问题来证明。研究计划的重点是发展一个通用的框架，用于发展实用的神经形态计算设备，以及发展专用的VLSI芯片来实现这些设备。 该框架将被应用于生成新的神经形态设备，以解决控制（喷气发动机燃烧稳定）和模式识别（机器嗅觉的主动传感）中的问题。通过在同一芯片上结合进化学习和模拟神经形态计算，该项目旨在提供可以在服务中适应和改进的控制器。该项目的教育计划基于这样的理念：专业实践既需要强大的理论掌握，又需要应用理论解决实际重要问题的技能。因此，工程实践最好在导师的帮助下学习，导师可以提供理论知识和实践指导。教育活动是面向培养教师，研究生，本科生和大学社区以外的公众成员之间的导师/学生关系。这些活动的目的是将研究纳入本科和研究生课程，鼓励学生攻读计算机科学和工程的高级学位，并教育公众了解支持计算机科学和工程研究的优势。该职业奖表彰并支持教师的早期职业发展活动-一位有可能成为21世纪世纪学术领袖的学者。 除了教育效益外，这项研究还将产生更广泛的影响。 自我设计的计算机器将具有巨大的价值，无论是作为工具本身，还是作为新设计原则的生成器，供人类利用。 在需要长时间保持服务的自主情况下，或者在人工调整不切实际的环境中，自配置设备将是非常宝贵的。 本研究旨在建立可演化硬件框架的通用性，提供立即有用的计算设备，并扩展基础科学知识。