A Comprehensive Workflow for General-Purpose Neural Modeling with Highly Configurable Neuromorphic Hardware Systems

In this paper we present a methodological framework that meets novel requirements emerging from upcoming types of accelerated and highly configurable neuromorphic hardware systems. We describe in detail a device with 45 million programmable and dynamic synapses that is currently under development, and we sketch the conceptual challenges that arise from taking this platform into operation. More specifically, we aim at the establishment of this neuromorphic system as a flexible and neuroscientifically valuable modeling tool that can be used by non-hardware-experts. We consider various functional aspects to be crucial for this purpose, and we introduce a consistent workflow with detailed descriptions of all involved modules that implement the suggested steps: The integration of the hardware interface into the simulator-independent model description language PyNN; a fully automated translation between the PyNN domain and appropriate hardware configurations; an executable specification of the future neuromorphic system that can be seamlessly integrated into this biology-to-hardware mapping process as a test bench for all software layers and possible hardware design modifications; an evaluation scheme that deploys models from a dedicated benchmark library, compares the results generated by virtual or prototype hardware devices with reference software simulations and analyzes the differences. The integration of these components into one hardware-software workflow provides an ecosystem for ongoing preparative studies that support the hardware design process and represents the basis for the maturity of the model-to-hardware mapping software. The functionality and flexibility of the latter is proven with a variety of experimental results

Paleomimetics: A Conceptual Framework for a Biomimetic Design Inspired by Fossils and Evolutionary Processes

In biomimetic design, functional systems, principles, and processes observed in nature are used for the development of innovative technical systems. The research on functional features is often carried out without giving importance to the generative mechanism behind them: evolution. To deeply understand and evaluate the meaning of functional morphologies, integrative structures, and processes, it is imperative to not only describe, analyse, and test their behaviour, but also to understand the evolutionary history, constraints, and interactions that led to these features. The discipline of palaeontology and its approach can considerably improve the efficiency of biomimetic transfer by analogy of function; additionally, this discipline, as well as biology, can contribute to the development of new shapes, textures, structures, and functional models for productive and generative processes useful in the improvement of designs. Based on the available literature, the present review aims to exhibit the potential contribution that palaeontology can offer to biomimetic processes, integrating specific methodologies and knowledge in a typical biomimetic design approach, as well as laying the foundation for a biomimetic design inspired by extinct species and evolutionary processes: Paleomimetics. A state of the art, definition, method, and tools are provided, and fossil entities are presented as potential role models for technical transfer solutions

Biomimetics design for tribological applications

Biomimetics, biomimicry and bionics are synonyms for the scientific discipline of creating new structures inspired by nature. Biomimetics systematically analyses the evolutionary processes of living organisms, their structural relationships, the characteristics of natural materials and it studies how this knowledge can be used to create the optimal products and new sustainable materials. In the past decade, the biomimetics has received an incentive for the development by the technology modernization, and above all, by making it possible to study the micro-and nanolevels of biological structures. On the other hand, the miniaturization of technological devices has increased the need to understand the tribological phenomena on micro-and nanolevel, where is a huge potential for technological innovation. The integration of advanced research methods made it possible to discover new aspects in the structure and properties of biological materials and transfer that knowledge into new concepts or products. State-of-the-art of biomimetics progress is discussed, as well as, its goals and the potential to simultaneously achieve the financial and ecological contribution by realization of bio-inspired concepts. An overview of biomimetic researches is also provided, with special emphasis on the possibility of their tribological applications. The characteristic examples have been presented and those examples show how the structural and mechanical properties of the material were used as the basis for developing new creative solutions to solve the problem of friction in engineering applications

Biomimetics design for tribological applications

Biomimetics, biomimicry and bionics are synonyms for the scientific discipline of creating new structures inspired by nature. Biomimetics systematically analyses the evolutionary processes of living organisms, their structural relationships, the characteristics of natural materials and it studies how this knowledge can be used to create the optimal products and new sustainable materials. In the past decade, the biomimetics has received an incentive for the development by the technology modernization, and above all, by making it possible to study the micro-and nanolevels of biological structures. On the other hand, the miniaturization of technological devices has increased the need to understand the tribological phenomena on micro-and nanolevel, where is a huge potential for technological innovation. The integration of advanced research methods made it possible to discover new aspects in the structure and properties of biological materials and transfer that knowledge into new concepts or products. State-of-the-art of biomimetics progress is discussed, as well as, its goals and the potential to simultaneously achieve the financial and ecological contribution by realization of bio-inspired concepts. An overview of biomimetic researches is also provided, with special emphasis on the possibility of their tribological applications. The characteristic examples have been presented and those examples show how the structural and mechanical properties of the material were used as the basis for developing new creative solutions to solve the problem of friction in engineering applications

Paleomimetics: A Conceptual Framework for a Biomimetic Design Inspired by Fossils and Evolutionary Processes

In biomimetic design, functional systems, principles, and processes observed in nature are used for the development of innovative technical systems. The research on functional features is often carried out without giving importance to the generative mechanism behind them: evolution. To deeply understand and evaluate the meaning of functional morphologies, integrative structures, and processes, it is imperative to not only describe, analyse, and test their behaviour, but also to understand the evolutionary history, constraints, and interactions that led to these features. The discipline of palaeontology and its approach can considerably improve the efficiency of biomimetic transfer by analogy of function; additionally, this discipline, as well as biology, can contribute to the development of new shapes, textures, structures, and functional models for productive and generative processes useful in the improvement of designs. Based on the available literature, the present review aims to exhibit the potential contribution that palaeontology can offer to biomimetic processes, integrating specific methodologies and knowledge in a typical biomimetic design approach, as well as laying the foundation for a biomimetic design inspired by extinct species and evolutionary processes: Paleomimetics. A state of the art, definition, method, and tools are provided, and fossil entities are presented as potential role models for technical transfer solutions

Description and composition of bio-inspired design patterns: a complete overview

In the last decade, bio-inspired self-organising mechanisms have been applied to different domains, achieving results beyond traditional approaches. However, researchers usually use these mechanisms in an ad-hoc manner. In this way, their interpretation, definition, boundary (i.e. when one mechanism stops, and when another starts), and implementation typically vary in the existing literature, thus preventing these mechanisms from being applied clearly and systematically to solve recurrent problems. To ease engineering of artificial bio-inspired systems, this paper describes a catalogue of bio-inspired mechanisms in terms of modular and reusable design patterns organised into different layers. This catalogue uniformly frames and classifies a variety of different patterns. Additionally, this paper places the design patterns inside existing self-organising methodologies and hints for selecting and using a design patter