SyNAPSE
Encyclopedia
SyNAPSE is a DARPA program that aims to develop electronic neuromorphic
machine technology that scales to biological levels. More simply stated, it is an attempt to build a new kind of computer with similar form, function, and architecture to the mammal
ian brain. Such artificial brain
s would be used in robots whose intelligence
matches that of rats, cats, and ultimately even humans.
SyNAPSE is a backronym
standing for Systems of Neuromorphic Adaptive Plastic Scalable Electronics. The name alludes to synapse
s, the junctions between biological neurons. The program is being undertaken by HRL Laboratories (HRL), Hewlett-Packard
, and IBM Research
. In November 2008, IBM and its collaborators were awarded $4.9 million in funding from DARPA. For the phase of the project, DARPA added $16.1 million more. In 2011, DARPA added an additional $21 million to the project. The SyNAPSE team is led by Dharmendra Modha
, manager of IBM's cognitive computing initiative.
The initial phase of the SyNAPSE program developed nanometer scale electronic synaptic components capable of adapting the connection strength between two neurons in a manner analogous to that seen in biological systems (Hebbian learning
), and simulated the utility of these synaptic components in core microcircuits that support the overall system architecture.
Continuing efforts will focus on hardware development through the stages of microcircuit development, fabrication process development, single chip system development, and multi-chip system development. In support of these hardware developments, the program seeks to develop increasingly capable architecture and design tools, very large-scale computer simulations of the neuromorphic electronic systems to inform the designers and validate the hardware prior to fabrication, and virtual environments for training and testing the simulated and hardware neuromorphic systems.
Neuromorphic
Neuromorphic engineering or neuromorphic computing is a concept developed by Carver Mead, in the late 1980s, describing the use of very-large-scale integration systems containing electronic analog circuits to mimic neuro-biological architectures present in the nervous system...
machine technology that scales to biological levels. More simply stated, it is an attempt to build a new kind of computer with similar form, function, and architecture to the mammal
Mammal
Mammals are members of a class of air-breathing vertebrate animals characterised by the possession of endothermy, hair, three middle ear bones, and mammary glands functional in mothers with young...
ian brain. Such artificial brain
Artificial brain
Artificial brain is a term commonly used in the media to describe research that aims to develop software and hardware with cognitive abilities similar to the animal or human brain...
s would be used in robots whose intelligence
Intelligence
Intelligence has been defined in different ways, including the abilities for abstract thought, understanding, communication, reasoning, learning, planning, emotional intelligence and problem solving....
matches that of rats, cats, and ultimately even humans.
SyNAPSE is a backronym
Backronym
A backronym or bacronym is a phrase constructed purposely, such that an acronym can be formed to a specific desired word. Backronyms may be invented with serious or humorous intent, or may be a type of false or folk etymology....
standing for Systems of Neuromorphic Adaptive Plastic Scalable Electronics. The name alludes to synapse
Synapse
In the nervous system, a synapse is a structure that permits a neuron to pass an electrical or chemical signal to another cell...
s, the junctions between biological neurons. The program is being undertaken by HRL Laboratories (HRL), Hewlett-Packard
Hewlett-Packard
Hewlett-Packard Company or HP is an American multinational information technology corporation headquartered in Palo Alto, California, USA that provides products, technologies, softwares, solutions and services to consumers, small- and medium-sized businesses and large enterprises, including...
, and IBM Research
IBM Research
IBM Research, a division of IBM, is a research and advanced development organization and currently consists of eight locations throughout the world and hundreds of projects....
. In November 2008, IBM and its collaborators were awarded $4.9 million in funding from DARPA. For the phase of the project, DARPA added $16.1 million more. In 2011, DARPA added an additional $21 million to the project. The SyNAPSE team is led by Dharmendra Modha
Dharmendra Modha
Dharmendra S. Modha is a manager and lead researcher of the Cognitive Computing group at IBM Almaden Research Center. He is known for his pioneering works in Artificial Intelligence and Mind Simulation. In November 2009, Modha announced at a supercomputing conference that his team had written a...
, manager of IBM's cognitive computing initiative.
The initial phase of the SyNAPSE program developed nanometer scale electronic synaptic components capable of adapting the connection strength between two neurons in a manner analogous to that seen in biological systems (Hebbian learning
Hebbian theory
Hebbian theory describes a basic mechanism for synaptic plasticity wherein an increase in synaptic efficacy arises from the presynaptic cell's repeated and persistent stimulation of the postsynaptic cell...
), and simulated the utility of these synaptic components in core microcircuits that support the overall system architecture.
Continuing efforts will focus on hardware development through the stages of microcircuit development, fabrication process development, single chip system development, and multi-chip system development. In support of these hardware developments, the program seeks to develop increasingly capable architecture and design tools, very large-scale computer simulations of the neuromorphic electronic systems to inform the designers and validate the hardware prior to fabrication, and virtual environments for training and testing the simulated and hardware neuromorphic systems.
Participants
The following people and institutions are participating in the DARPA SyNAPSE program:- Stanford UniversityStanford UniversityThe Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
: Brian A. WandellBrian WandellBrian A. Wandell is the Isaac and Madeline Stein Family Professor at Stanford University, where he was a former Chair of the Psychology Department....
, H.-S. Philip Wong - Cornell UniversityCornell UniversityCornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
: Rajit Manohar - Columbia University Medical CenterColumbia University Medical CenterColumbia University Medical Center is an academic medical center that includes Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons, College of Dental Medicine, School of Nursing and Mailman School of Public Health...
: Stefano Fusi - University of Wisconsin-Madison: Giulio TononiGiulio TononiGiulio Tononi is a professor of psychiatry at the University of Wisconsin. He is an authority on sleep, and in particular the genetics and etiology of sleep.He is also interested in the nature of consciousness,...
- University of California, MercedUniversity of California, MercedThe University of California, Merced, commonly referred to as UC Merced or UCM, is the tenth and newest of the University of California campuses. Located in the San Joaquin Valley in unincorporated Merced County, California, near Merced, UC Merced was the first American research university to...
: Christopher Kello - IBM ResearchIBM ResearchIBM Research, a division of IBM, is a research and advanced development organization and currently consists of eight locations throughout the world and hundreds of projects....
: Rajagopal Ananthanarayanan, Leland Chang, Daniel Friedman, Christoph Hagleitner, Bulent Kurdi, Chung Lam, Paul Maglio, Dharmendra ModhaDharmendra ModhaDharmendra S. Modha is a manager and lead researcher of the Cognitive Computing group at IBM Almaden Research Center. He is known for his pioneering works in Artificial Intelligence and Mind Simulation. In November 2009, Modha announced at a supercomputing conference that his team had written a...
, Stuart ParkinStuart ParkinStuart Stephen Papworth Parkin, Ph.D. is an experimental physicist, IBM Fellow and manager of the magnetoelectronics group at the IBM Almaden Research Center in San Jose, California. He is also a consulting professor in the Department of Applied Physics at Stanford University and director of the...
, Bipin Rajendran, Raghavendra Singh