Title
Hardware spiking neural network prototyping and application
Abstract
EMBRACE has been proposed as a scalable, reconfigurable, mixed signal, embedded hardware Spiking Neural Network (SNN) device. EMBRACE, which is yet to be realised, targets the issues of area, power and scalability through the use of a low area, low power analogue neuron/synapse cell, and a digital packet-based Network on Chip (NoC) communication architecture. The paper describes the implementation and testing of EMBRACE-FPGA, an FPGA-based hardware SNN prototype. The operation of the NoC inter-neuron communication approach and its ability to support large scale, reconfigurable, highly interconnected SNNs is illustrated. The paper describes an integrated training and configuration platform and an on-chip fitness function, which supports GA-based evolution of SNN parameters. The practicalities of using the SNN development platform and SNN configuration toolset are described. The paper considers the impact of latency jitter noise introduced by the NoC router and the EMBRACE-FPGA processor-based neuron/synapse model on SNN accuracy and evolution time. Benchmark SNN applications are described and results demonstrate the evolution of high quality and robust solutions in the presence of noise. The reconfigurable EMBRACE architecture enables future investigation of adaptive hardware applications and self repair in evolvable hardware.
Year
DOI
Venue
2011
10.1007/s10710-011-9130-9
Genetic Programming and Evolvable Machines
Keywords
Field
DocType
EMBRACE,Evolvable hardware,Spiking neural networks,Network on chip,Intrinsic evolution,FPGA
Computer science,Network packet,Field-programmable gate array,Network on a chip,Evolvable hardware,Jitter,Router,Computer hardware,Spiking neural network,Scalability,Embedded system
Journal
Volume
Issue
ISSN
12
3
1389-2576
Citations 
PageRank 
References 
19
0.71
22
Authors
7
Name
Order
Citations
PageRank
Seamus Cawley11108.10
Fearghal Morgan233634.11
Brian Mcginley322014.23
Sandeep Pande4885.92
Liam Mcdaid527030.48
Snaider Carrillo6956.38
Jim Harkin732536.82