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At least 55 records · Page 3
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2026

Citation network datasets for benchmarking spiking graph neural networks on experimental neuromorphic hardware

Spiking neural networks (SNNs) running on neuromorphic computers offer an energy-efficient alternative for AI tasks. Recently, spiking graph neural networks (S-GNNs) have been shown to produce encouraging results on benchmark citation network datasets such as Cora, CiteSeer, and PubMed for node classification tasks. These S-GNNs were run on SNN simulators only because they contain up to tens of thousands of neurons and up to millions of synapses, translating poorly to neuromorphic hardware. Therefore, in this paper, we create a suite of benchmark datasets from the CiteSeer dataset that can be accommodated on current neuromorphic hardware platforms. Our contribution consists of a collection of three datasets. First, we have an induced subgraph of CiteSeer, which we call MiniSeer, containing 2110 papers, 3604 binary features, and 6 topics. Second, MicroSeer is a very small dataset consisting of 84 papers, 1227 features, and 6 topics. Lastly, BiteSeer is a collection of 15 binary classification datasets. We present creation of these datasets along with accuracies, running times, and spike counts when simulated. We believe that our results in this paper will be used by the neuromorphic community to benchmark, test, and develop neuromorphic hardware and simulators.

Zhu, Kevin [George Mason University, Virginia]↗
DOE OSTI2025

Emerging applications: Neuromorphic computing and reservoir computing

The emergence of doped hafnium oxide (HfO 2 )-based ferroelectric films has enabled highly scalable and silicon-compatible ferroelectric devices, opening new frontiers in neuromorphic and reservoir computing. Among these, ferroelectric field-effect transistors (FeFETs) are particularly promising due to their analog memory characteristics and unique polarization dynamics. These properties make FeFETs ideal candidates for artificial synapses in neuromorphic architectures, supporting deep neural networks and spiking neural networks based on leaky-integrate-and-fire (LIF) mechanisms. Beyond neuromorphic computing, FeFETs also play a crucial role in physical reservoir computing, leveraging their intrinsic nonlinear and history-dependent behavior for efficient real-time learning. This approach offers significant advantages for time-series processing and edge artificial intelligence (AI) applications, addressing the growing need for energy-efficient computing. As a result, this article explores the principles, key demonstrations, and future potential of FeFET-based neuromorphic and reservoir computing, highlighting their impact on next-generation AI hardware.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2026

Learned adaptive properties for mitigation of weight perturbations in embedded spiking networks

Recent years have seen an increased importance of neural network inference in edge-based scenarios, which impose size and power constraints requiring novel computing devices. These same edge scenarios may require operating over long periods of time, or exposure to extreme environments, resulting in a drift of neural network weights that cause degraded performance. In searching for ways to develop neural network approaches that perform robustly under these conditions, we propose a biologically-inspired mechanism for the dynamic adaptation of within-neuron parameters that is guided by a global context signal carrying information about perturbations and variability in incoming stimuli. Specifically, we demonstrate that adaptive voltage thresholds or neuronal time constants, when informed by a global context signal, can enable network-level mechanisms to recover from perturbed synaptic weights. Consistent with prior literature, the context-modulated approach is effective for recurrent, but not feedforward networks, by modulating network level dynamics. We demonstrate this approach successfully recovers performance in image classification tasks and spatiotemporal tracking tasks under idealized and Gaussian noise as well as for realistic perturbations from a memristive device when exposed to ionizing radiation. Finally, we discuss how this approach enables the design of robust and energy-efficient neuromorphic systems that perform well, even in resource-constrained scenarios with extreme environments such as edge processing.

context modulation↗
DOE OSTI2024

Real-Time Neuromorphic Processing of Spatiotemporal Data for Scientific Discovery

Spiking Neural Networks (SNNs) are brain-inspired computing models incorporating unique temporal dynamics and event-driven processing. Rich dynamics in both space and time offer great challenges and opportunities for efficient processing of sparse spatiotemporal data compared with conventional artificial neural networks (ANNs). Under this context, the goal of this project is to develop spiking neural network based neuromorphic computing to enable energy-efficient real-time learning and processing of spatiotemporal data. This report summarizes the key results on network architecture design, training methods, and SNN hardware acceleration achieved under this project, demonstrating the promise of spiking neural networks.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2023

GNATFinder

SAND2023-05510O GNATFinder is a software tool for extracting graphical neural activity threads (GNATs) from spiking neural networks. GNATFinder efficiently extracts GNATs from spiking neural network data. A GNAT is a graph that represents the causal relationships between individual spikes in a spiking network using a combination of the network connectivity structure and the timing of individual spikes. The software allows for identifying similar, repeating threads that often reappear in a dataset. Using quadtree data structures to recursively subdivide the time interval over which spikes were produced by the spiking network, GNATFinder allows for efficient pairwise comparisons of spike times to determine the degree of causal relatedness among all pairs of spikes in a dataset. Sandia National Laboratories is a multimission laboratory managed and operated by National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Honeywell International Inc., for the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration under contract DE-NA0003525.

SciDAC↗
DOE OSTI2020

Automated Design of Neuromorphic Networks for Scientific Applications at the Edge

Designing spiking neural networks for neuromorphic deployment is a non-trivial task. It is further complicated when there are resource constraints for the neuromorphic implementation, such as size or power constraints, that may be present in edge applications. In this work, we utilize a previously presented approach, EONS, to design spiking neural networks for a memristive neuromorphic implementation for scientific data applications. We specifically use a multi-objective approach in EONS to maximize network accuracy on the scientific data application task, but also to minimize network size and energy. We illustrate that EONS determines both the network structure and the parameters, removing the burden from the user on determining the appropriate spiking neural network structure, and we show that the resulting networks are very different from the layered structure of typical neural networks. Finally, we show that the multi-objective approach produces smaller, more energy efficient networks than the original EONS approach and produces comparable accuracy to a back-propagation style training approach.

Schuman, Catherine↗
DOE OSTI2022

Devices and methods for increasing the speed and efficiency at which a computer is capable of modeling a plurality of random walkers using a density method

A method for increasing a speed or energy efficiency at which a computer is capable of modeling a plurality of random walkers. The method includes defining a virtual space in which a plurality of virtual random walkers will move among different locations in the virtual space, wherein the virtual space comprises a plurality of vertices and wherein the different locations are ones of the plurality of vertices. A corresponding set of neurons in a spiking neural network is assigned to a corresponding vertex such that there is a correspondence between sets of neurons and the plurality of vertices, wherein a spiking neural network comprising a plurality of sets of spiking neurons is established. A virtual random walk of the plurality of virtual random walkers is executed using the spiking neural network, wherein executing includes tracking how many virtual random walkers are at each vertex at a given time increment.

Aimone, James Bradley↗
DOE OSTI2023

On-Sensor Data Filtering using Neuromorphic Computing for High Energy Physics Experiments

This work describes the investigation of neuromorphic computing-based spiking neural network (SNN) models used to filter data from sensor electronics in high energy physics experiments conducted at the High Luminosity Large Hadron Collider. We present our approach for developing a compact neuromorphic model that filters out the sensor data based on the particle's transverse momentum with the goal of reducing the amount of data being sent to the downstream electronics. The incoming charge waveforms are converted to streams of binary-valued events, which are then processed by the SNN. We present our insights on the various system design choices - from data encoding to optimal hyperparameters of the training algorithm - for an accurate and compact SNN optimized for hardware deployment. Our results show that an SNN trained with an evolutionary algorithm and an optimized set of hyperparameters obtains a signal efficiency of about 91% with nearly half as many parameters as a deep neural network.

R. Kulkarni, Shruti↗
DOE OSTI2021

An artificial spiking quantum neuron

Abstract Artificial spiking neural networks have found applications in areas where the temporal nature of activation offers an advantage, such as time series prediction and signal processing. To improve their efficiency, spiking architectures often run on custom-designed neuromorphic hardware, but, despite their attractive properties, these implementations have been limited to digital systems. We describe an artificial quantum spiking neuron that relies on the dynamical evolution of two easy to implement Hamiltonians and subsequent local measurements. The architecture allows exploiting complex amplitudes and back-action from measurements to influence the input. This approach to learning protocols is advantageous in the case where the input and output of the system are both quantum states. We demonstrate this through the classification of Bell pairs which can be seen as a certification protocol. Stacking the introduced elementary building blocks into larger networks combines the spatiotemporal features of a spiking neural network with the non-local quantum correlations across the graph.

Kristensen, Lasse Bjørn (ORCID:0000000239398170)↗
DOE OSTI2020

Low Size, Weight, and Power Neuromorphic Computing to Improve Combustion Engine Efficiency

Neuromorphic computing offers one path forward for AI at the edge. However, accessing and effectively utilizing a neuromorphic hardware platform is non-trivial. In this work, we present a complete pipeline for neuromorphic computing at the edge, including a small, inexpensive, low-power, FPGA-based neuromorphic hardware platform, a training algorithm for designing spiking neural networks for neuromorphic hardware, and a software framework for connecting those components. We demonstrate this pipeline on a real-world application, engine control for a spark-ignition internal combustion engine. We illustrate how we connect engine simulations with neuromorphic hardware simulations and training software to produce hardware-compatible spiking neural networks that perform engine control to improve fuel efficiency. We present initial results on the performance of these spiking neural networks and illustrate that they outperform open-loop engine control. We also give size, weight, and power estimates for a deployed solution of this type.

Schuman, Catherine↗