Synthetic Generation of Events for Address-Event-Representation Communications

Address-Event-Representation (AER) is a communications protocol for transferring images between chips, originally developed for bio-inspired image processing systems. Such systems may consist of a complicated hierarchical structure with many chips that transmit images among them in real time, while performing some processing (for example, convolutions). In developing AER based systems it is very convenient to have available some kind of means of generating AER streams from on-computer stored images. In this paper we present a method for generating AER streams in real time from images stored in a computer’s memory. The method exploits the concept of linear feedback shift register random number generators. This method has been tested by software and compared to other possible algorithms for generating AER streams. It has been found that the proposed method yields a minimum error with respect to the ideal situation. A hardware platform that exploits this technique is currently under development

Public Service Broadcasting in the Audiovisual Communication Services Law of Argentina (LSCA) (2009-2014)

El trabajo analiza el modo en que la Ley de Servicios de Comunicación Audiovisual de Argentina recoge los desarrollos y debates teóricos en torno a los servicios públicos de radiodifusión. Con especial énfasis en los planteamientos referidos a la organización institucional de los medios en manos del Estado nacional, el objetivo central es indagar en qué medida las nociones referidas a modelos de medios públicos, realizadas desde la perspectiva de la democratización de las comunicaciones, se plasman en la letra de la Ley 26.522. Los pasos dados en su aplicación desde su sanción en octubre de 2009 hasta la actualidad motivan esta revisión profunda en el interés de conocer por dentro a una propuesta que inicia su despliegue. La norma analizada deja ver la revisión de la tradición teórica latinoamericana que ha problematizado este tema, de experiencias bien reputadas en el mundo en la gestión de estos tipos de medios y de recomendaciones institucionales, ancladas en la perspectiva señalada. De tal forma, el capítulo que crea a Radio y Televisión Argentina Sociedad del Estado como entidad administradora de los medios estatales nacionales puede leerse como la prescripción de un modelo claro de medios públicos, pero que debe encontrar su aplicación adecuada en la práctica concreta, que incluye la interacción y negociación de distintos sectores políticos y sociales. Por último, el análisis da cuenta del acotamiento de la norma a los servicios de radiodifusión analógicos, en un escenario de creciente digitalización de señales y de expansión de Internet como soporte de difusión y consumo de contenidos audiovisuales.The paper analyzes how the Audiovisual Communication Services Law of Argentina includes theoretical developments and debates about public service broadcasting. Considering the approaches to the institutional organization of the media in the hands of the national state, the main objective of this paper is to evaluate if the Law 26.522 actually responds to the notions of public media models which arose from the perspective of democratic communication. The steps taken towards its implementation (since its enactment in October 2009 to the present) invite to a profound insight and a better knowledge of this recent proposal. The law under analysis permits to review the Latin American theoretical tradition, the international best practices in the management of these types of media, and institutional recommendations deriving from the appointed perspectives. In particular, the chapter that creates Radio y Television Argentina as an entity in charge of all State-owned media can be read as a clear model of public media, that must nonetheless find its proper implementation, which includes interaction and negotiation between various political and social actors. Finally, this analysis shows that the law limits its influence to the analog broadcasting services, in a scenario of increasing digitization and of expansion of Internet as a platform for dissemination and consumption of audiovisual content.Fil: Linares, Alejandro Felix. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Sociales. Instituto de Investigación de América Latina y el Caribe; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

An Event-Driven Multi-Kernel Convolution Processor Module for Event-Driven Vision Sensors

Event-Driven vision sensing is a new way of sensing visual reality in a frame-free manner. This is, the vision sensor (camera) is not capturing a sequence of still frames, as in conventional video and computer vision systems. In Event-Driven sensors each pixel autonomously and asynchronously decides when to send its address out. This way, the sensor output is a continuous stream of address events representing reality dynamically continuously and without constraining to frames. In this paper we present an Event-Driven Convolution Module for computing 2D convolutions on such event streams. The Convolution Module has been designed to assemble many of them for building modular and hierarchical Convolutional Neural Networks for robust shape and pose invariant object recognition. The Convolution Module has multi-kernel capability. This is, it will select the convolution kernel depending on the origin of the event. A proof-of-concept test prototype has been fabricated in a 0.35 m CMOS process and extensive experimental results are provided. The Convolution Processor has also been combined with an Event-Driven Dynamic Vision Sensor (DVS) for high-speed recognition examples. The chip can discriminate propellers rotating at 2 k revolutions per second, detect symbols on a 52 card deck when browsing all cards in 410 ms, or detect and follow the center of a phosphor oscilloscope trace rotating at 5 KHz.Unión Europea 216777 (NABAB)Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación TEC2009-10639-C04-0

Funding in the state media of Argentina between 2003 and 2015. Changes and continuities within an expansion trend

El artículo analiza y evalúa el presupuesto de los medios estatales nacionales argentinos durante el periodo 2003-2015 desde una propuesta metodológica que recupera dimensiones cualitativas y cuantitativas. Se abordan los casos de Canal 7 y Radio Nacional, medios administrados por el Estado nacional argentino e incluidos en la regulación establecida por la sanción de la Ley de Servicios de Comunicación Audiovisual en 2009. Inserto en la tradición de estudios latinoamericanos críticos sobre políticas de comunicación, el trabajo describe los mecanismos de financiamiento y presenta el detalle de los presupuestos en estos medios. A partir de allí se plantean comparaciones con experiencias de otros países y propuestas analíticas para abordajes futuros. El trabajo concluye que durante el periodo se produjo un crecimiento constante del financiamiento en términos absolutos y en sus variaciones interanuales. Sin embargo, su dimensión continuó muy por debajo de las cifras de las experiencias europeas de medios estatales.The paper analyzes and evaluates the budget of Argentine national state media during the period 2003-2015 through a methodological proposal that recovers qualitative and quantitative dimensions. It addresses the cases of Canal 7 and Radio Nacional. These media are managed by the Argentine National State and are included in the regulation established by the sanction of the Audiovisual Communication Services Law in 2009. Inserted in the tradition of critical Latin American studies on communication policies, the work describes the funding mechanisms and presents the detail of budgets in these media. From there, comparisons are made with experiences from other countries and analytical proposals for future approaches are included. The article concludes that during the period there was a constant growth of funding in absolute terms and in its interannual variations. However, its dimension continued below the figures of European experiences of state media

Inter-spikes-intervals exponential and gamma distributions study of neuron firing rate for SVITE motor control model on FPGA

This paper presents a statistical study on a neuro-inspired spike-based implementation of the Vector-Integration-To-End-Point motor controller (SVITE) and compares its deterministic neuron-model stream of spikes with a proposed modification that converts the model, and thus the controller, in a Poisson like spike stream distribution. A set of hardware pseudo-random numbers generators, based on a Linear Feedback Shift Register (LFSR), have been introduced in the neuron-model so that they reach a closer biological neuron behavior. To validate the new neuron-model behavior a comparison between the Inter-Spikes-Interval empirical data and the Exponential and Gamma distributions has been carried out using the Kolmogorov–Smirnoff test. An in-hardware validation of the controller has been performed in a Spartan6 FPGA to drive directly with spikes DC motors from robotics to study the behavior and viability of the modified controller with random components. The results show that the original deterministic spikes distribution of the controller blocks can be swapped with Poisson distributions using 30-bit LFSRs. The comparative between the usable controlling signals such as the trajectory and the speed profile using a deterministic and the new controller show a standard deviation of 11.53 spikes/s and 3.86 spikes/s respectively. These rates do not affect our system because, within Pulse Frequency Modulation, in order to drive the motors, time length can be fixed to spread the spikes. Tuning this value, the slow rates could be filtered by the motor. Therefore, this SVITE neuro-inspired controller can be integrated within complex neuromorphic architectures with Poisson-like neurons

Mercado do solo urbano e produção do espaço residencial na cidade de Tandil, Argentina

El siguiente trabajo se propone interpretar la situación actual del mercado del suelo y la vivienda en la ciudad de Tandil. Para este fin, se utilizará la teoría de la renta del suelo urbano, la cual permite conocer los procesos subyacentes en la conformación del mercado de la vivienda en las ciudades, la presencia de las distintas clases de rentas en la conformación de los precios de los inmuebles y la incidencia que éstas poseen para explicar la disposición espacial de las áreas residenciales. Se propone, además, una tipología habitacional que permite caracterizar y dar cuenta de las diversas fuerzas que convergen en las áreas residenciales de la ciudad de Tandil, una aglomeración intermedia de la provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina. Con este objetivo, se utilizan fuentes de información primaria y datos del Censo Nacional de Población, Hogares y Viviendas de 2010 (Instituto Nacional de Estadísticas y Censos [Indec], 2010). La cartografía es confeccionada mediante Sistemas de Información Geográfica.This work seeks to do an interpretation of the current situation in the land and housing market in the city of Tandil. To do so, the urban land rent theory will be used as it allows to know the processes underlying the housing market configuration in the cities as well as the presence of different types of rent for the real estate pricing and their incidence on the explanation of the spatial arrangement in the residential areas. In addition, a housing typology is proposed to enable the characterization and accounting for the different forces converging in the residential areas of Tandil, a middle-sized conglomeration in the Buenos Aires province, Argentina. To this purpose, primary information sources and data from the National Census for Population, Households and Housing are used (Instituto Nacional de Estadísticas y Censos [Indec], 2010). The cartography is tailored based on geographic information systems.O trabalho propõe-se interpretar a situação atual do mercado da habitação e fundiário na cidade de Tandil. Para isso, utilizar-se-á a teoria da renda do solo urbano, a qual permite conhecer os processos subjacentes na conformação do mercado de habitação nas cidades, a presença das diferentes classes de renda na conformação dos preços dos imóveis e a incidência que elas possuem para explicar o arranjo espacial das áreas residenciais. Propõe-se, mesmo, uma tipologia habitacional que permite caracterizar e dar conta das diversas forças que convergem em áreas residenciais da cidade de Tandil, uma aglomeração intermédia da província de Buenos Aires, Argentina. Com este objetivo são usadas fontes de informação primária e dados do Censo Nacional de População, Famílias e Moradias (Instituto Nacional de Estadísticas y Censos [Indec], 2010). A cartografia é feita mediante Sistemas de Informação Geográfica.Fil: Migueltorena, Alejandro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tandil. Instituto de Geografía, Historia y Ciencias Sociales. Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Instituto de Geografía, Historia y Ciencias Sociales; ArgentinaFil: Linares, Santiago. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tandil. Instituto de Geografía, Historia y Ciencias Sociales. Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Instituto de Geografía, Historia y Ciencias Sociales; Argentin

A 5 Meps $100 USB2.0 Address-Event Monitor-Sequencer Interface

This paper describes a high-speed USB2.0 Address- Event Representation (AER) interface that allows simultaneous monitoring and sequencing of precisely timed AER data. This low-cost (<$100), two chip, bus powered interface can achieve sustained AER event rates of 5 megaevents per second (Meps). Several boards can be electrically synchronized, allowing simultaneous synchronized capture from multiple devices. It has three AER ports, one for sequencing, one for monitoring and one for passing through the monitored events. This paper also describes the host software infrastructure that makes the board usable for a heterogeneous mixture of AER devices and that allows recording and playback of recorded data

Propuesta de Modernización Administrativa en el Instituto Nacional de Migración: Caso Delegación Federal en el Estado de México; Área de Regulación Migratoria

En el presente trabajo de investigación se abordará el tema de modernización administrativa dentro del Instituto Nacional de Migración (INM), específicamente en la delegación federal en el Estado de México, dentro del área de regulación migratoria. Se decidió trabajar sobre ésta temática debido a la experiencia laboral de más de un año con la que cuento dentro del área de regulación migratoria, y además de esto por las condiciones actuales en las que varios servidores públicos desenvolvemos nuestro trabajo para ofrecerles un servicio a las personas que hacen uso de los diferentes trámites que se realizan en esa área. Debido al constante contacto con el que cuento en regulación migratoria, me he percatado que se puede modernizar esta área sustancial de migración, a través de métodos de los que se vale la Administración Pública para hacer mejoras u optimizar el servicio público, en este caso el presente trabajo se rige bajo la modernización administrativa. Todo esto antes mencionado con la única finalidad de proporcionar un mejor servicio al usuario del INM. Es a partir de todo esto que el objetivo de esta investigación consiste en elaborar una propuesta de modernización administrativa para mejorar de manera integral el servicio que se brinda en esta área. De ésta manera al concluir nuestra investigación determinaremos si la falta de herramientas de modernización administrativa en la delegación federal del INM en el Estado de México, específicamente en el área de regulación migratoria, ocasiona que la prestación de los servicios no sea eficiente a los usuarios. La metodología que se utilizará para efectos de este trabajo de investigación será el método descriptivo, debido a que se realizará una descripción de las condiciones actuales del área de regulación migratoria de la delegación federal del INM en el Estado de México en términos de modernización administrativa, para después poder emitir una propuesta que desemboque en una mejora al área migratoria ya mencionada, a través de herramientas de modernización administrativa

Improved Contrast Sensitivity DVS and its Application to Event-Driven Stereo Vision

This paper presents a new DVS sensor with one order of magnitude improved contrast sensitivity over previous reported DVSs. This sensor has been applied to a bio-inspired event-based binocular system that performs 3D event-driven reconstruction of a scene. Events from two DVS sensors are matched by using precise timing information of their ocurrence. To improve matching reliability, satisfaction of epipolar geometry constraint is required, and simultaneously available information on the orientation is used as an additional matching constraint.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad PRI-PIMCHI-2011-0768Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad TEC2009-10639-C04-01Junta de Andalucía TIC-609

Dynamic Vision Sensor integration on FPGA-based CNN accelerators for high-speed visual classification

Deep-learning is a cutting edge theory that is being applied to many fields. For vision applications the Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) are demanding significant accuracy for classification tasks. Numerous hardware accelerators have populated during the last years to improve CPU or GPU based solutions. This technology is commonly prototyped and tested over FPGAs before being considered for ASIC fabrication for mass production. The use of commercial typical cameras (30fps) limits the capabilities of these systems for high speed applications. The use of dynamic vision sensors (DVS) that emulate the behavior of a biological retina is taking an incremental importance to improve this applications due to its nature, where the information is represented by a continuous stream of spikes and the frames to be processed by the CNN are constructed collecting a fixed number of these spikes (called events). The faster an object is, the more events are produced by DVS, so the higher is the equivalent frame rate. Therefore, these DVS utilization allows to compute a frame at the maximum speed a CNN accelerator can offer. In this paper we present a VHDL/HLS description of a pipelined design for FPGA able to collect events from an Address-Event-Representation (AER) DVS retina to obtain a normalized histogram to be used by a particular CNN accelerator, called NullHop. VHDL is used to describe the circuit, and HLS for computation blocks, which are used to perform the normalization of a frame needed for the CNN. Results outperform previous implementations of frames collection and normalization using ARM processors running at 800MHz on a Zynq7100 in both latency and power consumption. A measured 67% speedup factor is presented for a Roshambo CNN real-time experiment running at 160fps peak rate.Comment: 7 page