A Spike-based Computer Architecture for Sensory Processing

0541241PI：约翰·G·哈里斯佛罗里达大学用于感觉处理的基于尖峰的计算机体系结构PI将开发、研究和构建基于神经元尖峰(或动作电位)的神经生物启发的体系结构。建议的架构结合了先前由PI开发的基于脉冲的感觉处理思想和一个引人注目的大脑计算模型，称为液体状态机(LSM)。该模型提供了一个概念框架，用于使用生物真实的脉冲神经元模型(整合并激发神经元)作为递归非线性体系结构中的基本计算元素。PI为开发对计算有用的尖峰信号处理元件网络提出了三个关键步骤：1.PI将开发用于将连续变量输入转换为非周期尖峰信号的采样理论(以及同样地将尖峰信号信号转换回连续幅度信号)。虽然很有趣，但一旦更好地理解了计算的特征，LSM的体系结构就可以得到很大的改进。特别是，尽管液体的互连是任意和固定的，PI计划开发一种适应这种基于尖峰的表示的理论。PI将把基于尖峰的架构映射到今天的硅电子产品上。这种混合模拟/数字体系结构既不同于传统的数字体系结构，也不同于过去的模拟计算设备。然而，如果不能在计算能力、功耗、抗噪性和动态范围方面采用具有竞争力的性能指标来构建所提议的体系结构，那么它将只有在科学上具有价值。因此，为了设计硅架构，PI将确定关键的计算原理，设计信号转换，并用大量足够小的组件制造产生的构建块，采用CMOS技术。最后，为了在工程实践中进行理论研究和设计，PIS建议开发一个使用现成电子鼻(或电子鼻)作为前端的化学传感原型系统。之所以选择这个应用程序，是因为它在国土安全中的重要性，也是因为它为拟议的基于SPEKE的架构提供了一个自然的输入。

0541241PI: John G. HarrisUniversity of FloridaA Spike-Based Computer Architecture for Sensory ProcessingThe PIs will develop, study, and build a neurobiologically inspired architecture based on neuronal spikes (or action potentials). The proposed architecture combines previous spike-based sensory processing ideas developed by the PIs with a compelling model of brain computation called the Liquid State Machine (LSM). This model provides a conceptual framework for working with biologically realistic pulsed neuron models (integrate-and-fire neurons) as the basic computational element within a recurrent nonlinear architecture. The PIs propose three key steps for developing networks of spiking processing elements that are useful for computation: 1. The PIs will develop a sampling theory for converting continuous variable inputs into aperiodic spike trains (and likewise transform spikes trains back to continuous amplitude signals).2. Although interesting, the architecture of the LSM can be largely improved once the characteristics of the computation are better understood. In particular, while the interconnect of the liquid is arbitrary and fixed, the PIs plan to develop a theory of adaptation for such spike based representations.3. The PIs will map the spike-based architecture to todays silicon electronics. This hybrid analog/digital architecture is fundamentally different from both conventional digital architectures and past analog computing devices. However, the proposed architecture will be of only scientific interest if it cannot be built with competitive performance measures in terms of computational capability, power consumption, noise immunity and dynamic range. Therefore, in order to design the architecture in silicon, the PIs will identify key computational principles, design signal transformations, and fabricate the resulting building blocks with huge numbers of sufficiently small components in CMOS technology. Finally, in order to ground the theoretical research and design in engineering practice, the PIs propose to develop a prototype system for chemical sensing using an off-the-shelf electronic nose (or e-nose) as the front end. This application was chosen due to its importance in homeland security, and also because it provides a natural input to the proposed spike-based architecture.