We know that NUMEN was awarded an SBIR to explore replacing SRAM on AKIDA with its patented resistive Ram but do not know if it was successful however the following which I have extracted from Numen’s website might be a pointer to the outcome:
AI/Neuromorphic
Artificial Intelligence is poised to affect virtually everything. It is slated to be embedded into virtually all electronics equipment.AI processing will be done both in the Cloud and on the Intelligent Devices in order to reduce the data sent over the network to the cloud, for latency sensitive applications and also for better autonomy in case of poor network performance. This means more and more Devices will embed AI, including battery operated devices.
Numems’ Intelligent Memory products enable lower power than conventional memory and have optimization for the higher performance required by AI applications. At a fraction of the size of SRAM, it provides a path to both lower power and lower system cost. In the future, Numems’ memory products will enable the efficient implementation of Neuromorphic chips where both storage and processing are connected within these “neurons” that are communicating and learning together.
My opinion only DYOR
FF
AKIDA BALLISTA
Not that I want to detract from the point you are making, only for clarification:
- Numem were using MRAM, which is quite different from ReRAM.
- They were planning on replacing the FLASH memory, and not the SRAM.
- This was not ON Akida, it would have to interface with Akida via a bus as the technologies are not compatible at the fabrication level—they cannot co-exist on a chip. Not one that is manufactured on a single wafer that is.
The wording used in the solicitation may have caused some confusion as they stated MRAM has “
SRAM like performance”. Which it does!
From
NASA SBIR 2022-I Solicitation
“Present Neuromorphic solutions for Space applications require FLASH memory for boot and weight storage in case of power loss or intermittent power failures. The FLASH memory has limitations on speed and life-time is limited by about 1M cycles of memory operations due to its endurance. For Deep Space Missions where continuous learning is required with updates on the non-volatile memory, a robust radiation tolerant memory with
SRAM like performance but still with non volatility and high endurance is required.
MRAM which offers 2.5X to 3.5X density advantage over SRAM, 1000X better endurance over FLASH, high radiation tolerance above 100Krad to 1Mrad and ultra-low power standby leakage which is critical for long battery life between solar recharge is a big advantage for these critical SPACE missions. Numem proposes in Phase-I to
create a interface system with MRAM which can connect with AKIDA Neuromorphic Processor from Brainchip to either
limit or replace FLASH operations with MRAM.”
As a massively scaled down comparison:
MRAM uses magnetism to define states. For this is needs exotic materials and a very complex production process. MRAM is extremely expensive to manufacture, as well as being very complicated to manufacture.
ReRAM uses resistance to define states, and the manufacturing is much simpler and is compatible with Akida.
Due to the vast differences in materials involved, I don‘t even believe it would be possible to fabricate a chip that has both MRAM and Akida on it. Any MRAM solution will require a separate chip and interface via a bus.
I believe WeeBit’s ReRAM would be more appropriate than MRAM for replacing the FLASH component and have already passed that information on to Tony Dawe and Coby Hanoch (WeeBit Nano CEO). A solution using Akida and ReRAM could be manufactured on the same wafer with no need for messy, and costly, interfacing or exotic packaging. I have been discussing this over in the WeeBit Discussion thread.
♂
