Learning in neuro/fuzzy analog chips

This paper focus on the design of adaptive mixed-signal fuzzy chips. These chips have parallel architecture and feature electrically-controlable surface maps. The design methodology is based on the use of composite transistors - modular and well suited for design automation. This methodology is supported by dedicated, hardware-compatible learning algorithms that combine weight-perturbation and outstar

Using Building Blocks to Design Analog Neuro-Fuzzy Controllers

We present a parallel architecture for fuzzy controllers and a methodology for their realization as analog CMOS chips for low- and medium-precision applications. These chips can be made to learn through the adaptation of electrically controllable parameters guided by a dedicated hardware-compatible learning algorithm. Our designs emphasize simplicity at the circuit level—a prerequisite for increasing processor complexity and operation speed. Examples include a three-input, four-rule controller chip in 1.5-μm CMOS, single-poly, double-metal technology

Neuro-fuzzy chip to handle complex tasks with analog performance

This paper presents a mixed-signal neuro-fuzzy controller chip which, in terms of power consumption, input–output delay, and precision, performs as a fully analog implementation. However, it has much larger complexity than its purely analog counterparts. This combination of performance and complexity is achieved through the use of a mixed-signal architecture consisting of a programmable analog core of reduced complexity, and a strategy, and the associated mixed-signal circuitry, to cover the whole input space through the dynamic programming of this core. Since errors and delays are proportional to the reduced number of fuzzy rules included in the analog core, they are much smaller than in the case where the whole rule set is implemented by analog circuitry. Also, the area and the power consumption of the new architecture are smaller than those of its purely analog counterparts simply because most rules are implemented through programming. The Paper presents a set of building blocks associated to this architecture, and gives results for an exemplary prototype. This prototype, called multiplexing fuzzy controller (MFCON), has been realized in a CMOS 0.7 um standard technology. It has two inputs, implements 64 rules, and features 500 ns of input to output delay with 16-mW of power consumption. Results from the chip in a control application with a dc motor are also provided

Neuro-fuzzy chip to handle complex tasks with analog performance

This Paper presents a mixed-signal neuro-fuzzy controller chip which, in terms of power consumption, input-output delay and precision performs as a fully analog implementation. However, it has much larger complexity than its purely analog counterparts. This combination of performance and complexity is achieved through the use of a mixed-signal architecture consisting of a programmable analog core of reduced complexity, and a strategy, and the associated mixed-signal circuitry, to cover the whole input space through the dynamic programming of this core [1]. Since errors and delays are proportional to the reduced number of fuzzy rules included in the analog core, they are much smaller than in the case where the whole rule set is implemented by analog circuitry. Also, the area and the power consumption of the new architecture are smaller than those of its purely analog counterparts simply because most rules are implemented through programming. The Paper presents a set of building blocks associated to this architecture, and gives results for an exemplary prototype. This prototype, called MFCON, has been realized in a CMOS 0.7μm standard technology. It has two inputs, implements 64 rules and features 500ns of input to output delay with 16mW of power consumption. Results from the chip in a control application with a DC motor are also provided

FPGAs in Industrial Control Applications

The aim of this paper is to review the state-of-the-art of Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) technologies and their contribution to industrial control applications. Authors start by addressing various research fields which can exploit the advantages of FPGAs. The features of these devices are then presented, followed by their corresponding design tools. To illustrate the benefits of using FPGAs in the case of complex control applications, a sensorless motor controller has been treated. This controller is based on the Extended Kalman Filter. Its development has been made according to a dedicated design methodology, which is also discussed. The use of FPGAs to implement artificial intelligence-based industrial controllers is then briefly reviewed. The final section presents two short case studies of Neural Network control systems designs targeting FPGAs

FPGA design methodology for industrial control systems—a review

This paper reviews the state of the art of fieldprogrammable gate array (FPGA) design methodologies with a focus on industrial control system applications. This paper starts with an overview of FPGA technology development, followed by a presentation of design methodologies, development tools and relevant CAD environments, including the use of portable hardware description languages and system level programming/design tools. They enable a holistic functional approach with the major advantage of setting up a unique modeling and evaluation environment for complete industrial electronics systems. Three main design rules are then presented. These are algorithm refinement, modularity, and systematic search for the best compromise between the control performance and the architectural constraints. An overview of contributions and limits of FPGAs is also given, followed by a short survey of FPGA-based intelligent controllers for modern industrial systems. Finally, two complete and timely case studies are presented to illustrate the benefits of an FPGA implementation when using the proposed system modeling and design methodology. These consist of the direct torque control for induction motor drives and the control of a diesel-driven synchronous stand-alone generator with the help of fuzzy logic

FPGA implementation of an image recognition system based on tiny neural networks and on-line reconfiguration

Neural networks are widely used in pattern recognition, security applications and robot control. We propose a hardware architecture system; using Tiny Neural Networks (TNN) specialized in image recognition. The generic TNN architecture allows expandability by means of mapping several Basic units (layers) and dynamic reconfiguration; depending on the application specific demands. One of the most important features of Tiny Neural Networks (TNN) is their learning ability. Weight modification and architecture reconfiguration can be carried out at run time. Our system performs shape identification by the interpretation of their singularities. This is achieved by interconnecting several specialized TNN. The results of several tests, in different conditions are reported in the paper. The system detects accurately a test shape in almost all the experiments performed. The paper also contains a detailed description of the system architecture and the processing steps. In order to validate the research, the system has been implemented and was configured as a perceptron network with backpropagation learning and applied to the recognition of shapes. Simulation results show that this architecture has significant performance benefits