Neuromorphic System for Spatial and Temporal Information Processing

Neuromorphic systems that learn and predict from streaming inputs hold significant promise in pervasive edge computing and its applications. In this article, a neuromorphic system that processes spatio-temporal information on the edge is proposed. Algorithmically, the system is based on hierarchical temporal memory that inherently offers online learning, resiliency, and fault tolerance. Architecturally, it is a full custom mixed-signal design with an underlying digital communication scheme and analog computational modules. Therefore, the proposed system features reconfigurability, real-time processing, low power consumption, and low-latency processing. The proposed architecture is benchmarked to predict on real-world streaming data. The network's mean absolute percentage error on the mixed-signal system is 1.129 X lower compared to its baseline algorithm model. This reduction can be attributed to device non-idealities and probabilistic formation of synaptic connections. We demonstrate that the combined effect of Hebbian learning and network sparsity also plays a major role in extending the overall network lifespan. We also illustrate that the system offers 3.46 X reduction in latency and 77.02 X reduction in power consumption when compared to a custom CMOS digital design implemented at the same technology node. By employing specific low power techniques, such as clock gating, we observe 161.37 X reduction in power consumption.