Unconventional computing using evolution-in-nanomaterio: neural networks meet nanoparticle networks

Klaus Greff, Rudolf M.J. van Damme, Jan Koutnik, Haitze J. Broersma, Julia Olegivna Mikhal, Celestine Preetham Lawrence, Wilfred Gerard van der Wiel, Jürgen Schmidhuber

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionAcademicpeer-review

294 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Recently published experimental work on evolution-in-materio applied to nanoscale materials shows promising results for future reconfigurable devices. These experiments were performed on disordered nano-particle networks that have no predefined design. The material has been treated as a blackbox, and genetic algorithms have been used to find appropriate configuration voltages to enable the target functionality. In order to support future experiments, we developed simulation tools for predicting candidate functionalities. One of these tools is based on a physical model, but the one we introduce in this paper is based on an artificial neural network. The advantage of this newly presented approach is that, after training the neural network to match either the real material or its physical model, it can be configured using gradient descent instead of a black-box optimisation. The experiments we report here demonstrate that the neural network can model the simulated nano-material quite accurately. The differentiable, neural network-based material model is then used to find logic gates, as a proof of principle. This shows that the new approach has great potential for partly replacing costly and time-consuming experiments with the real materials. Therefore, this approach has a high relevance for future computing, either as an alternative to digital computing or as an alternative way of producing multi-functional reconfigurable devices.
Original languageUndefined
Title of host publicationThe Eighth International Conference on Future Computational Technologies and Applications, FUTURE COMPUTING 2016
Place of PublicationWilmington, U.S.A.
PublisherInternational Academy, Research, and Industry Association (IARIA)
Pages15-20
Number of pages6
ISBN (Print)978-1-61208-461-9
Publication statusPublished - 20 Mar 2016
EventThe Eighth International Conference on Future Computational Technologies and Applications, FUTURE COMPUTING 2016 - Rome, Italy
Duration: 20 Mar 201624 Mar 2016
Conference number: 8
https://www.iaria.org/conferences2016/AwardsFUTURECOMPUTING16.html

Publication series

Name
PublisherIARIA International Academy, Research and Industry Association

Conference

ConferenceThe Eighth International Conference on Future Computational Technologies and Applications, FUTURE COMPUTING 2016
Abbreviated titleFUTURE COMPUTING 2016
Country/TerritoryItaly
CityRome
Period20/03/1624/03/16
Internet address

Keywords

  • MSC-65Z05
  • EWI-26922
  • Simulation
  • Unconventional computation
  • METIS-316877
  • Nanoparticle network
  • IR-100187
  • Evolution-in-nanomaterio
  • Neural network

Cite this