PFI: Cognitive Signal Processing

这个创新伙伴关系(PFI)项目的合作伙伴包括达特茅斯学院的研究人员和小型企业的学生，他们致力于低功耗、高吞吐量信号处理的新机制和相关计算平台的研究和转化，这些新机制和平台将转化为用于感官增强和移动传感器系统的新技术和产品。该项目的智力优势来自于它专注于研究和转换神经系统的新型信号处理机制到低功率模拟和混合信号设备，以及随后在需要低功率和高吞吐量的应用中使用和重复使用这些机制。应用实例包括：通过感测单个光子并在传感器附近移动信号处理功能来显著提高图像质量的新型成像设备；用于在嘈杂环境中集中收听的听觉设备；用于生物医学监测和增强生物力学性能的人体穿戴设备(例如，在运动员、残疾人或老年人中)；对机器和结构(例如，风力涡轮机、飞机、桥梁)的远程无线监测；以及无线传感器网络。这项研究的更广泛的影响包括：加强博士水平的教育，包括创业和新创业的培训；与拓宽产品市场相关的对知识增强伙伴(KEP)的经济影响；以及通过提高吸引和招聘技术人员的可见度对区域小型技术公司的影响。这一努力建立在达特茅斯学院塞耶工程学院学术项目创新的坚实基础上。塞耶学院提供美国第一个博士级别的工程创新项目，旨在为博士毕业生提供将研究发现转化为市场技术所需的创业培训。助学金由内部奖学金基金提供，为这些学生提供为期五年的机会，与合作伙伴进行合作研究，进行研究翻译，并进行因PFI活动而产生的技术开发。与支持地区经济发展的当地非政府组织的活动侧重于项目、宣传材料和网站，以吸引和留住新罕布夏州和佛蒙特州的智力资本，并吸引新的小型技术公司进入该地区，从而促进康涅狄格河两岸的经济发展。该项目开始时的合作伙伴包括知识增强伙伴(KEP)部门，该部门由达特茅斯学院的塞耶工程学院和五家小企业组成：Forza Silicon(加利福尼亚州帕萨迪纳)、MicroSTrain公司(弗吉尼亚州威利斯顿)、Neuromorfix公司(亚特兰大)、Simbex，LLC。(黎巴嫩，NH)，Sound Innovation Inc.(佛蒙特州White River Junction)。此外，还有其他合作伙伴。这些合作伙伴包括一家大公司：Maxim集成产品公司(加利福尼亚州桑尼维尔)和两个当地非营利性非政府组织：格拉夫顿县经济发展委员会(NH)和绿山经济发展公司(VT)。

This Partnerships for Innovations (PFI) project partners Dartmouth College investigators and students with small businesses in the research and research translation of novel mechanisms and associated computational platforms for low power, high throughput signal processing that will translate to new technologies and products for sensory enhancement and for mobile sensor systems. The intellectual merit of this project derives from its focus on research and translation of the novel signal processing mechanisms of neuronal systems to low power analog and mixed-signal devices and the subsequent use and reuse of these mechanisms across applications that demand low power and high throughput. Example applications include a new imaging device that substantially improves image quality by sensing single photons and moving signal processing functions close to the sensor; an auditory device for focused listening in noisy environments; body-worn devices for biomedical monitoring and enhancing biomechanics performance (e.g., in athletes, disabled, or elderly people); remote, wireless monitoring of machines and structures (e.g., wind turbines, aircraft, bridges); and wireless sensor networks. The broader impacts of this research are the strengthening of Ph.D. level education to include training in entrepreneurship and new venture creation; the economic impact on Knowledge Enhancement Partners (KEPs) associated with broadening markets for their products; and an impact on regional small technology companies through increased visibility in attracting and hiring technical staff. The effort builds on a strong foundation in innovation within the academic programs of the Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College. Thayer School offers the nation's first doctoral-level Engineering Innovation Program designed to provide Ph.D. graduates with the entrepreneurial training needed to turn research discoveries into marketable technologies. Grant funds are leveraged by internal fellowship funding, providing these students with a five-year opportunity for collaborative research with partners, for research translation, and for technology development stemming from PFI activities. Activities with local non-governmental organizations that support regional economic development focus on programs, promotional materials, and websites to attract and retain intellectual capital within New Hampshire and Vermont and to attract new small technology companies to the region, thereby promoting economic development on both sides of the Connecticut River. Partners at the inception of the project include the Knowledge Enhancement Partnership (KEP) unit, consisting of Dartmouth College's Thayer School of Engineering and five small businesses: Forza Silicon (Pasadena, CA), MicroStrain, Inc. (Williston, VT), Neuromorfix, Inc. (Atlanta, GA), Simbex, LLC. (Lebanon, NH), Sound Innovations Inc. (White River Junction, VT). In addition, there are other partners. These partners include a large corporation: Maxim Integrated Products (Sunnyvale, CA) and two local non-profit, non-governmental organizations: Grafton County Economic Development Council (NH) and Green Mountain Economic Development Corporation (VT).