Neuromorphic Engineering, a field that takes its inspiration from biological processes, especially of the human nervous system, and has its roots in physics, mathematics and engineering, is an emerging area for science students who wish to work in the cutting edge areas of technology. The scope of the subject is only highlighted with significant number of countries and giant corporates such as Intel, IBM, Qualcomm and Samsung setting up teams to work on neuromorphic systems in the last couple of years.
Speaking about the relevance of the field in the present scenario, Andre Van Schaik, Director, International Centre for Neuromorphic Systems (CNS), Western Sydney University (WSU), Australia said, “performance of devices which was hitherto being enhanced by increasing the number of transistors, is now witnessing a dead-end as we have reached a point where we are forced to think of newer means to improve it. Neuromorphic engineering can address this problem effectively as it can help receive accurate data, cut down the number of steps in processing and then revert it quickly in the same form.” Professor Andre Van Schaik was in Bangalore recently to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore. According to him, neuromorphic engineering is about equipping a device to sense the environment, process information and make decisions similar to the neurons of human brain.
For effective automation and scaling up, he said, “it is necessary that technology makes sense of complex human thought process and behaviour. Neuromorphic engineering aims at mimicking the working of the nervous system by creating a similar architecture artificially.”
The MOU between CNS, WSU and IISc enables students from both institutions to seek co-operation from each other with regard to the study of neuromorphic engineering. If three Master’s students get to do their final project for a period of six months at WSU, three Ph.D candidates from IISc can spend about 12 months in WSU completing their thesis under the joint supervision of professors from both India and Australia. “Apart from this, one master’s graduate from IISc will get a grant to do her/his PhD with us for the full period,” informed Schaik. An International scientific symposium on neuromorphic engineering will also be co-organised and hosted by IISc next year in furtherance of this collaboration. The student exchange programme will begin from January 2018.
