SVITE: A Spike-Based VITE Neuro-Inspired Robot Controller

This paper presents an implementation of a neuro-inspired algorithm called VITE (Vector Integration To End Point) in FPGA in the spikes domain. VITE aims to generate a non-planned trajectory for reaching tasks in robots. The algorithm has been adapted to work completely in the spike domain under Simulink simulations. The FPGA implementation consists in 4 VITE in parallel for controlling a 4-degree-of-freedom stereo-vision robot. This work represents the main layer of a complex spike-based architecture for robot neuro-inspired reaching tasks in FPGAs. It has been implemented in two Xilinx FPGA families: Virtex-5 and Spartan-6. Resources consumption comparative between both devices is presented. Results obtained for Spartan device could allow controlling complex robotic structures with up to 96 degrees of freedom per FPGA, providing, in parallel, high speed connectivity with other neuromorphic systems sending movement references. An exponential and gamma distribution test over the inter spike interval has been performed to proof the approach to the neural code proposed.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad TEC2012-37868-C04-0

A FPGA Spike-Based Robot Controlled with Neuro-inspired VITE

This paper presents a spike-based control system applied to a fixed robotic platform. Our aim is to take a step forward to a future complete spikes processing architecture, from vision to direct motor actuation. This paper covers the processing and actuation layer over an anthropomorphic robot. In this way, the processing layer uses the neuro-inspired VITE algorithm, for reaching a target, based on PFM taking advantage of spike system information: its frequency. Thus, all the blocks of the system are based on spikes. Each layer is implemented within a FPGA board and spikes communication is codified under the AER protocol. The results show an accurate behavior of the robotic platform with 6-bit resolution for a 130º range per joint, and an automatic speed control of the algorithm. Up to 96 motor controllers could be integrated in the same FPGA, allowing the positioning and object grasping by more complex anthropomorphic robots.Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación TEC2009-10639-C04-02Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad TEC2012-37868-C04-0

World-Sheet Duality, Space-Time Foam, and the Quantum Fate of a Stringy Black Hole

We interpret Minkowski black holes as world-sheet {\it spikes } which are related by world-sheet { \it duality} to {\it vortices } that correspond to Euclidean black holes. These world-sheet defects induce defects in the gauge fields of the corresponding coset Wess-Zumino descriptions of spherically-symmetric black holes. The low-temperature target space-time foam is a Minkowski black hole (spike) plasma with confined Euclidean black holes (vortices). The high-temperature phase is a {\it dense} vortex plasma described by a topological gauge field theory on the world-sheet, which possesses enhanced symmetry as in the target space-time singularity at the core of a black hole. Quantum decay via higher-genus effects induces a back-reaction which causes a Minkowski black hole to lose mass until it is indistinguishable from intrinsic fluctuations in the space-time foam.Comment: 16 pages, CERN-TH.6534/92, (correction of a minor typographical error on page 12

Decision-theoretic control of EUVE telescope scheduling

This paper describes a decision theoretic scheduler (DTS) designed to employ state-of-the-art probabilistic inference technology to speed the search for efficient solutions to constraint-satisfaction problems. Our approach involves assessing the performance of heuristic control strategies that are normally hard-coded into scheduling systems and using probabilistic inference to aggregate this information in light of the features of a given problem. The Bayesian Problem-Solver (BPS) introduced a similar approach to solving single agent and adversarial graph search patterns yielding orders-of-magnitude improvement over traditional techniques. Initial efforts suggest that similar improvements will be realizable when applied to typical constraint-satisfaction scheduling problems

Spike processing model of the brain

The timing of a spike within a specific time period is used to identify a place in space (input terminal) and/or sense changes in energy or position in the environment, and is used to determine the motion of an actuator or the activation of a place in space (output terminal). The timing of a spike is specified by a sensor or a time delay memory cell that is preset (predetermined) or set through experience (empirical). Time delay memory cells are arranged in decoding networks that activate specific output terminals based upon the timing of incoming spike trains, or arranged in encoding networks that generate spike trains from activated input terminals. These spike trains form semi-axes that can transmit large quantities of information in one direction through a single conductor, and are essential in the transmission of information from peripheral neurons to and from the brain through the spinal chord

Iodine binding to humic acid

The rate of reactions between humic acid (HA) and iodide (I-) and iodate (IO3-) have been investigated in suspensions spiked with 129I at concentrations of 22, 44 and 88 µg L-1 and stored at 10oC. Changes in the speciation of 129I-, 129IO3- and mixed (129I-+129IO3-) spikes were monitored over 77 days using liquid chromatography inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LC-ICP-MS). In suspensions spiked with 129I- 25% of the added I- was transformed into organic iodine (Org-129I) within 77 days and there was no evidence of 129IO3- formation. By contrast, rapid loss of 129IO3- and increase in both 129I- and Org-129I was observed in 129IO3--spiked suspensions. However, the rate of Org-129I production was greater in mixed systems compared to 129IO3--spiked suspensions with the same total 129I concentration, possibly indicating IO3-—I- redox coupling. Size exclusion chromatography (SEC) demonstrated that Org-129I was present in both high and low molecular weight fractions of the HA although a slight preference to bond with the lower molecular weight fractions was observed indicating that, after 77 days, the spiked isotope had not fully mixed with the native 127I pool. Iodine transformations were modelled using first order rate equations and fitted rate coefficients determined. However, extrapolation of the model to 250 days indicated that a pseudo-steady state would be attained after ~ 200 days but that the proportion of 129I incorporated into HA was less than that of 127I indicating the presence of a recalcitrant pool of 127I that was unavailable for isotopic mixing

Revisión de la literatura de Implementación de BESS en DER

Distributed Energy Resources (DER) have been a fundamental part of the inclusion of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) in the generation and distribution system. This work shows an exhaustive review of the different approaches that the authors have developed when implementing BESS in DER, its scope and applications in different environments, observing that the most covered topics are Smart Grid (SG), Distributed Generation (DG), Energy Storage (ES) and where little information is found on the topics of Electric Vehicles (EV), Advanced Measurement (AM) and Demand Response (DR), this is to give an overview of the progress the authors have had and it allows to know in which field of application less information is found, facilitating the search for new researchers.Los recursos energéticos distribuidos (DER) han sido parte fundamental para la inclusión de los Sistemas de almacenamiento de baterías (BESS) al sistema de generación y distribución. Este trabajo muestra una revisión exhaustiva de los diferentes enfoques que han desarrollado los autores al implementar BESS en DER sus alcances y aplicaciones en diferentes entornos, observando que los temas más abarcados son Smart Grid (SG), Generación Distribuida (GD) , Almacenamiento de Energía (AE) y en donde se encuentra poca información son los temas de Vehículos eléctricos (VE), Medición Avanzada (MA) y Respuesta a la Demanda (RD), esto tiene como fin dar una visión mas general sobre los avances que han tenido los autores y permite conocer en qué campo de aplicación se encuentra menos información facilitando la búsqueda de los nuevos investigadores

Temporal Leakage and Its Effects on Resolution in Deconvolution of Ultrasonic Signals

A common problem in ultrasonic nondestructive evaluation is the limitation imposed by the oscillatory nature of the ultrasonic pulse. Echoes from closely spaced reflectors often overlap and interfere, obscuring the true nature of the defect or layered system. Many deconvolution methods have been developed to remove the oscillatory response of the transducer from the received ultrasonic echo thereby improving the temporal resolution. While these methods have worked well on simulated signals, the results on real data have generally been much poorer [1-7]. Ultrasonic pulse shape variations, nonlinear effects or the breakdown of other model assumptions all contribute to this lower performance on real signals. An additional problem which has undergone little investigation is temporal leakage; it is very common and produces inaccuracy in the position and amplitude of deconvolved features. An understanding of its nature may help to improve resolution when deconvolving real signal