Neuromorphic implementation of ECG anomaly detection using delay chains

Real-time analysis and classification of bio-signals measured using wearable devices is computationally costly and requires dedicated low-power hardware. One promising approach is to use spiking neural networks implemented using in-memory computing architectures and neuromorphic electronic circuits. However, as these circuits process data in streaming mode without the possibility of storing it in external buffers, a major challenge lies in the processing of spatio-temporal signals that last longer than the time constants present in the network synapses and neurons. Here we propose to extend the memory capacity of a spiking neural network by using parallel delay chains. We show that it is possible to map temporal signals of multiple seconds into spiking activity distributed across multiple neurons which have time constants of few milliseconds. We validate this approach on an ECG anomaly detection task and present experimental results that demonstrate how temporal information is properly preserved in the network activity.

Towards hardware Implementation of WTA for CPG-based control of a Spiking Robotic Arm

Biological nervous systems typically perform the control of numerous degrees of freedom for example in animal limbs. Neuromorphic engineers study these systems by emulating them in hardware for a deeper understanding and its possible application to solve complex problems in engineering and robotics. Central-Pattern-Generators (CPGs) are part of neuro-controllers, typically used at their last steps to produce rhythmic patterns for limbs movement. Different patterns and gaits typically compete through winner-take-all (WTA) circuits to produce the right movements. In this work we present a WTA circuit implemented in a Spiking-Neural-Network (SNN) processor to produce such patterns for controlling a robotic arm in real-time. The robot uses spike-based proportional-integrativederivative (SPID) controllers to keep a commanded joint position from the winner population of neurons of the WTA circuit. Experiments demonstrate the feasibility of robotic control with spiking circuits following brain-inspiration.