A Spiking Neural Network Saved This Robot From Falling
Despite the name, most artificial neural networks (ANNs) actually have very little in common with their biological counterparts. While they are loosely inspired by the interconnected neurons found in the brain, modern neural networks are primarily mathematical models designed to recognize patterns in data. Biological neurons, on the other hand, communicate through complex electrochemical processes and adapt continuously.
A somewhat lesser-known type of ANN called a spiking neural network attempts to more closely model biological networks. Rather than processing information as continuous numerical values, spiking neural networks communicate using discrete electrical pulses, or "spikes," similar to the way neurons exchange signals in living organisms. Information is encoded not only by whether a neuron fires, but also by the timing of those spikes, allowing these networks to capture temporal relationships more naturally.
A closer look at the hardware (📷: Becky Stern)
Becky Stern recently picked up a Backyard Brains SpikerBot, which...
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