31 research outputs found
Microchips convolucionadores AER para procesado asíncrono neocortical de información sensorial visual codificada en eventos
Tesis descargada desde TeseoEn este trabajo, se presentan dos versiones diferentes de microchips convolucionadores completamente digitales basados en el protocolo AER para sistemas de procesamiento visual basados en eventos. Estos chips constituyen la unidad básica para construir sistemas complejos multicapa a partir de la interconexión en serie y en paralelo de diferentes muestras de los mismos. Cada uno de ellos permite re alizar convoluciones con kernel programable de un tamaño máximo de 32*32.La primera versión de chip Conv1 opera sobre un array de píxeles de tamaño 32*32, aunque está diseñado para poder construir sistemas equivalentes de mayor resolución conectando varias muestras en paralelo. La segunda versión Conv2 cuenta con un tamaño 4 veces mayor, 64*64 píxeles, y además implementa la funcionalidad multikernel. Esta funcionalidad permite programar varios kernels diferentes dentro de un mismo chip (hasta 32) para que éste pueda recibir eventos de varios chips diferentes de una capa anterior, y aplicarle a cada uno de ellos un kernel diferente en función de su origen. Esto está especialmente indicado para facilitar la implementación de sistemas multicapa, a imitación de la corteza cerebral, y siguiendo las estructuras típicas del paradigma conocido como “Convolutional Neural Networks”.En el presente documento se describen detalladamente las arquitecturas de cada una de las dos versiones propuestas de chips de convolución, así como algunos resultados experimentales obtenidos. El documento está estructurado de la siguiente forma. En primer lugar, en el Capítulo 2 se presentan las ventajas de los sistemas de procesamiento visual basados en eventos, frente a los tradicionales sistemas basados en fotogramas. Este capítulo incluye también una descripción del protocolo AER, imprescindible para construir sistemas de procesamiento por eventos. El Capítulo 3 hace un repaso sobre las estructuras multicapa bioinspiradas de procesamiento de imagen, justificando el uso de la operación de convolución como unidad básica de este tipo de sistemas, describiendo también la arquitectura propuesta para los chips de convolución basados en AER. En el Capítulo 4 se describe en detalle el píxel de convolución como base de los chips propuestos, analizando las dos versiones diferentes, mientras que en el Capítulo 5 se detallan el resto de circuitos periféricos incluidos en los chips de convolución. El Capítulo 6 muestra exhaustivos resultados experimentales obtenidos a partir de las dos versiones Conv1 y Conv2. Por último, el Capítulo 7 presenta las conclusiones
Compact Functional Testing for Neuromorphic Computing Circuits
We address the problem of testing artificial intelligence (AI) hardware accelerators implementing spiking neural networks (SNNs). We define a metric to quickly rank available samples for training and testing based on their fault detection capability. The metric measures the interclass spike count difference of a sample for the fault-free design. In particular, each sample is assigned a score equal to the spike count difference between the first two top classes. The hypothesis is that samples with small scores achieve high fault coverage because they are prone to misclassification, i.e., a small perturbation in the network due to a fault will result in these samples being misclassified with high probability. We show that the proposed metric correlates with the per-sample fault coverage and that retaining a set of high-ranked samples in the order of ten achieves near-perfect fault coverage for critical faults that affect the SNN accuracy. The proposed test generation approach is demonstrated on two SNNs modeled in Python and on actual neuromorphic hardware. We discuss fault modeling and perform an analysis to reduce the fault space so as to speed up test generation time. © 1982-2012 IEEE
Self-Testing Analog Spiking Neuron Circuit
International audienceHardware-implemented neural networks are foreseen to play an increasing role in numerous applications. In this paper, we address the problem of post-manufacturing test and self-test of hardware-implemented neural networks. In particular, we propose a self-testable version of a spiking neuron circuit. The self-test wrapper is a compact circuit composed of a low-precision ramp generator and a small digital block. The self-test principle is demonstrated on a spiking neuron circuit design in 0.35µm CMOS technology
Event-Driven Stereo Visual Tracking Algorithm to Solve Object Occlusion
Object tracking is a major problem for many computer
vision applications, but it continues to be computationally
expensive. The use of bio-inspired neuromorphic event-driven
dynamic vision sensors (DVSs) has heralded new methods for
vision processing, exploiting reduced amount of data and very
precise timing resolutions. Previous studies have shown these
neural spiking sensors to be well suited to implementing singlesensor
object tracking systems, although they experience difficulties
when solving ambiguities caused by object occlusion.
DVSs have also performed well in 3-D reconstruction in which
event matching techniques are applied in stereo setups. In this
paper, we propose a new event-driven stereo object tracking
algorithm that simultaneously integrates 3-D reconstruction
and cluster tracking, introducing feedback information in both
tasks to improve their respective performances. This algorithm,
inspired by human vision, identifies objects and learns their
position and size in order to solve ambiguities. This strategy
has been validated in four different experiments where the
3-D positions of two objects were tracked in a stereo setup even
when occlusion occurred. The objects studied in the experiments
were: 1) two swinging pens, the distance between which during
movement was measured with an error of less than 0.5%;
2) a pen and a box, to confirm the correctness of the results
obtained with a more complex object; 3) two straws attached to
a fan and rotating at 6 revolutions per second, to demonstrate
the high-speed capabilities of this approach; and 4) two people
walking in a real-world environment.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad TEC2012-37868-C04-01Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad TEC2015-63884-C2-1-PJunta de Andalucía TIC-609
A Fully Digital Relaxation-Aware Analog Programming Technique for HfOx RRAM Arrays
For neuromorphic engineering to emulate the human brain, improving memory
density with low power consumption is an indispensable but challenging goal. In
this regard, emerging RRAMs have attracted considerable interest for their
unique qualities like low power consumption, high integration potential,
durability, and CMOS compatibility. Using RRAMs to imitate the more analog
storage behavior of brain synapses is also a promising strategy for further
improving memory density and power efficiency. However, RRAM devices display
strong stochastic behavior, together with relaxation effects, making it more
challenging to precisely control their multi-level storage capability. To
address this, researchers have reported different multi-level programming
strategies, mostly involving the precise control of analog parameters like
compliance current during write operations and/or programming voltage
amplitudes. Here, we present a new fully digital relaxation-aware method for
tuning the conductance of analog RRAMs. The method is based on modulating
digital pulse widths during erase operations while keeping other parameters
fixed, and therefore requires no precise alterations to analog parameters like
compliance currents or programming voltage amplitudes. Experimental results,
with and without relaxation effect awareness, on a 64 RRAM 1T1R HfOx memory
array of cells, fabricated in 130nm CMOS technology, indicate that it is
possible to obtain 2-bit memory per cell multi-value storage at the array
level, verified 1000 seconds after programming.Comment: 5 pages, 10 figures, 2 table
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
Fully Digital AER Convolution Chip for Vision Processing
We present a neuromorphic fully digital convolution
microchip for Address Event Representation (AER)
spike-based processing systems. This microchip computes
2-D convolutions with a programmable kernel in
real time. It operates on a pixel array of size 32 x 32, and
the kernel is programmable and can be of arbitrary shape
and size up to 32 x 32 pixels. The chip receives and generates
data in AER format, which is asynchronous and
digital. The paper describes the architecture of the chip,
the test setup, and experimental results obtained from a
fabricated prototype.European Union IST-2001-34124 (CAVIAR)Comisión Interministerial de Ciencia y Tecnología TIC-2003-08164-C03-01Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia TEC2006-11730-C03-01Junta de Andalucía P06-TIC-0141
On the use of orientation filters for 3D reconstruction in event-driven stereo vision
The recently developed Dynamic Vision Sensors (DVS) sense visual information asynchronously and code it into trains of events with sub-micro second temporal resolution. This high temporal precision makes the output of these sensors especially suited for dynamic 3D visual reconstruction, by matching corresponding events generated by two different sensors in a stereo setup. This paper explores the use of Gabor filters to extract information about the orientation of the object edges that produce the events, therefore increasing the number of constraints applied to the matching algorithm. This strategy provides more reliably matched pairs of events, improving the final 3D reconstruction.ERANET PRI-PIMCHI- 2011-0768Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad TEC2009-10639-C04-01, TEC2012-37868- C04-01Junta de Andalucía TIC-609
Event-driven stereo vision with orientation filters
The recently developed Dynamic Vision Sensors
(DVS) sense dynamic visual information asynchronously and
code it into trains of events with sub-micro second temporal
resolution. This high temporal precision makes the output of
these sensors especially suited for dynamic 3D visual
reconstruction, by matching corresponding events generated by
two different sensors in a stereo setup. This paper explores the
use of Gabor filters to extract information about the orientation
of the object edges that produce the events, applying the
matching algorithm to the events generated by the Gabor filters
and not to those produced by the DVS. This strategy provides
more reliably matched pairs of events, improving the final 3D
reconstruction.European Union PRI-PIMCHI-2011-0768Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad TEC2009-10639-C04-01Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad TEC2012-37868-C04-01Junta de Andalucía TIC-609
A Configurable Event-Driven Convolutional Node with Rate Saturation Mechanism for Modular ConvNet Systems Implementation
Convolutional Neural Networks (ConvNets) are a particular type of neural network often used for many applications like image recognition, video analysis or natural language processing. They are inspired by the human brain, following a specific organization of the connectivity pattern between layers of neurons known as receptive field. These networks have been traditionally implemented in software, but they are becoming more computationally expensive as they scale up, having limitations for real-time processing of high-speed stimuli. On the other hand, hardware implementations show difficulties to be used for different applications, due to their reduced flexibility. In this paper, we propose a fully configurable event-driven convolutional node with rate saturation mechanism that can be used to implement arbitrary ConvNets on FPGAs. This node includes a convolutional processing unit and a routing element which allows to build large 2D arrays where any multilayer structure can be implemented. The rate saturation mechanism emulates the refractory behavior in biological neurons, guaranteeing a minimum separation in time between consecutive events. A 4-layer ConvNet with 22 convolutional nodes trained for poker card symbol recognition has been implemented in a Spartan6 FPGA. This network has been tested with a stimulus where 40 poker cards were observed by a Dynamic Vision Sensor (DVS) in 1 s time. Different slow-down factors were applied to characterize the behavior of the system for high speed processing. For slow stimulus play-back, a 96% recognition rate is obtained with a power consumption of 0.85mW. At maximum play-back speed, a traffic control mechanism downsamples the input stimulus, obtaining a recognition rate above 63% when less than 20% of the input events are processed, demonstrating the robustness of the networkEuropean Union 644096, 687299Gobierno de España TEC2016-77785- P, TEC2015-63884-C2-1-PJunta de Andalucía TIC-6091, TICP120