Descripción del proyecto
Chip biomimético para detección integrada y computación neuronal
El proyecto InsectNeuroNano, financiado con fondos europeos, pretende desarrollar innovadores dispositivos nanofotónicos en el chip para detección y computación integradas, inspirados en el sistema neuronal de los insectos. La tecnología combinará conocimientos avanzados de neurobiología entomológica para diseños de circuitos y navegación autónoma con semiconductores de nanocables con el fin de aprovechar la luz para la interconexión. Aprovechará tintes moleculares estables como nuevos componentes de memoria y utilizará tecnología de circuitos para la computación cuántica. Como prueba de concepto, InsectNeuroNano recreará un camino desde la detección de luz polarizada de insectos hasta los circuitos de memoria que integran la información para proporcionar una estimación de ubicación continua. El objetivo final es crear un chip que permita la navegación autónoma de vehículos sin GPS. Los componentes neuronales desarrollados se utilizarán luego como componentes básicos en un amplio espectro de circuitos.
Objetivo
We propose nanophotonic on-chip devices for integrated sensing and neural computation, inspired by the insect brain. This will uniquely combine four lines of research: 1) progress in understanding insect neurobiology that provides proven circuit designs to solve significant problems such as autonomous navigation; 2) advanced III-V semiconductor nanowire technology that exploits light to obtain a large number of interconnects with extremely low power consumption; 3) optically efficient stable molecular dyes that can be used for novel memory components; 4) circuit technology developed for quantum computing. As proof of concept, we target the complete pathway from polarised light sensing in the insect eye to the internal compass and memory circuits by which this information is integrated in a continuous accurate estimate of location. Building on verified models, we will first demonstrate that the computational principles can be implemented using overlapping light signals in a nanoscale system, with high error tolerance and orders of magnitude better energy and spatial footprint than present technologies. We will then explore neuromorphic memory functionalities from nanoelectronics and molecular dyes, in parallel with deeper investigation of the memory substrates in the insect brain. The same nanostructures used for computing can be used for optical sensing, and we will develop an integrated sensor and information processing array to extract global orientation information from polarised skylight. The direct outcome will be an energy efficient, robust chip enabling autonomous vehicle navigation without GPS, with many potential applications; but more importantly, the novel neural components we will develop can then be re-assembled into a wide spectrum of circuits to mimic other computations in the insect brain. The technology platform can be integrated with silicon technology and we will demonstrate the pathway to upscaling and commercialization.
Ámbito científico
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Convocatoria de propuestas
HORIZON-EIC-2021-PATHFINDEROPEN-01
Consulte otros proyectos de esta convocatoriaRégimen de financiación
HORIZON-EIC - HORIZON EIC GrantsCoordinador
22100 Lund
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