Reservoir Computing Approach to Robust Computation using Unreliable Nanoscale Networks

As we approach the physical limits of CMOS technology, advances in materials science and nanotechnology are making available a variety of unconventional computing substrates that can potentially replace top-down-designed silicon-based computing devices. Inherent stochasticity in the fabrication process and nanometer scale of these substrates inevitably lead to design variations, defects, faults, and noise in the resulting devices. A key challenge is how to harness such devices to perform robust computation. We propose reservoir computing as a solution. In reservoir computing, computation takes place by translating the dynamics of an excited medium, called a reservoir, into a desired output. This approach eliminates the need for external control and redundancy, and the programming is done using a closed-form regression problem on the output, which also allows concurrent programming using a single device. Using a theoretical model, we show that both regular and irregular reservoirs are intrinsically robust to structural noise as they perform computation

Concurrent design of energy management and vehicle traction supervisory control algorithms for parallel hybrid electric vehicles

In this paper, concurrent design of energy management (EM) and traction control algorithms for a vehicle equipped with a parallel hybrid powertrain is studied. This paper focuses on designing the two control algorithms together as one control design problem, which are traditionally considered separately. First, optimal control actions and operating points are obtained by applying dynamic programming (DP). Then, this information is used for developing a rule-based supervisory controller. Our objective is to minimize the fuel consumption and the wheel slip simultaneously. Two control problems are also solved separately and compared with the concurrent solution. Results show that promising benefits can be obtained by using the concurrent design approach rather than considering two control problems separately. Under the same conditions, the vehicle with the concurrent supervisory controller is 16% more efficient in fuel consumption and experiences 12% less wheel slip, assuming slippery road friction conditions. © 1967-2012 IEEE