Computer Chip Mimics Human Mind
A LICENSING AGREEMENT
PROVIDING A U.S. automobile manufacturer the use of an advanced
neural network technology from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)
could mean financial savings for millions of American car owners
and producers in the future. JPL's neural net computer chip mimics
the way the human mind works. The smart fit between JPL's hardware
and Ford Motor Company's expertise in automotive engineering algorithms
would, for the first time, enable the robust diagnosis of engine
misfirings under the hood and possibly bring about many other diagnostic
and control commercial applications.
The vehicle applications will mean that artificial neural networks
will "learn" how to diagnose problems such as engine misfires
and to control the engine to optimize fuel economy and emissions.
Neural systems were inspired by the architecture of nervous systems
of animals, which use neurons—a form of parallel processing
elements—to process large volumes of information simultaneously.
The technology could virtually eliminate engine misfire false
alarms, improving customer satisfaction and reliability. Current
under-the-hood diagnostic technology signals vehicle misfirings
and false misfirings via the dashboard.
The industrial giant's ability to meet ever-stricter Clean Air
Act requirements also will be enhanced, as they apply to continuous
on-board diagnostics and control, officials said. Ford engineers
do not predict a price increase for installing the chip because
JPL designed a computationally powerful neuroprocessor that could
be mass-produced in a highly cost-effective way.
Real-time on-board diagnostics are being enabled for the first
time, according to Dr. Raoul Tawel, who led the chip development
at JPL in Pasadena, California. JPL's expertise in designing and
building neural network application-specific integrated circuits
gives a tremendous boost in computational ability compared to traditional
software approaches, Tawel said. "The introduction of our neural
network chip into passenger vehicles signals the start of a revolutionary
step in on-board computing since the introduction of the microprocessor
in automobiles in the 70s," he added.
For misfire diagnostics, it is necessary to observe and diagnose
every engine-firing event, estimated at more than 1 billion during
the life of each car. In addition, the diagnostic error rate has
to be extremely small, less than one in a million, to avoid sending
false alarm signals. The new chip will accomplish this by "learning"
diagnostic tasks during the vehicle development process.
Conventional software would not perform these tasks as well, nor
would it be implemented in large production volumes with standard
microprocessors. The neural network chip, designed to carry out
parallel neuron computations efficiently, overcomes the computational
barriers that prevent this technology from being exploited today.
JPL is retaining general rights and has applied for patents to
the technology. JPL is managed by the California Institute of Technology,
which serves as the party of record for this license. Under the
agreement, Ford is granted use of the intellectual property rights
for the automobile industry only.
For more information, contact Raoul Tawel at Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
Call: 818/354-4951, Fax: 818/393-4272, E-mail: Raoul.Tawel@jpl.nasa.gov
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NASA-OHIO
EFFORT TARGETS TRADITIONAL MANUFACTURING
A
new joint initiative will provide significant industrial innovation
and change in the traditional U.S. manufactured goods industry
using microsystems technology while meeting NASA mission requirements.
The Glennan Microsystems Initiative, under the direction of
the State of Ohio, will offer microsystems to a range of manufacturing-
and technology-intensive companies. It was named for former
NASA administrator and former Case Western Reserve University
(CWRU) president T. Keith Glennan.
Microsystems
are miniaturized electrical and mechanical devices as small
as a human hair. Physical and chemical sensors and actuators
will be a focus for NASA, with a particular emphasis on harsh
environments, such as high temperatures, large stress/strains,
rotating parts, structural curvatures, erosive flows and corrosive
media. Companies as diverse as bearings makers, medical devices
and imaging companies, aircraft suppliers, tire makers and
consumer product companies will receive tangible results.
The initiative—including
$16 million in federal and $4.5 million in state funds—is
a five-year project designed to build on existing strengths
and resources in Ohio. Although it emphasizes Ohio industry,
participation in the initiative is open to any U.S. company.
State of Ohio support is being provided through its newly
established Technology Action Fund, designed to leverage federal
capabilities and resources. The joint funding parties are
NASA, the State of Ohio, industry and other foundations and
federal agencies.
NASA's
Lewis Research Center in Cleveland, the State of Ohio, CWRU
and Cleveland Tomorrow's Technology Leadership Council, an
organization of corporate executive officers in northeast
Ohio, advanced the idea to couple cutting-edge microsystems
capabilities at NASA and CWRU with industry. The Glennan Initiative
builds on current partner strengths and collaborative relationships.
NASA Lewis provides more than two dozen investigators, state-of-the-art
analytical and testing facilities, R&D 100 Awards and
a NASA Center of Excellence. CWRU, which has one of the top-four-rated
microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) programs in the United
States, provides a core of highly recognized investigators,
state-of- the-art fabrication and clean room facilities, and
multi-agency sponsorship. CWRU is in the process of expanding
its program capabilities.
The Glennan
Initiative will use a network of existing public-private technology
intermediaries to commercialize its technology. The Great
Lakes Industrial Technology Center will lead this effort,
with the help of the Ohio Edison Centers (including CAMP and
Edison BioTechnology Center), Ohio MEMSNet (a consortium including
Ohio State University, the University of Cincinnati, the University
of Dayton, the University of Toledo, Wright State University,
Cleveland Clinic Foundation and the Air Force Institute of
Technology), Lewis Incubator for Technology, Ohio Aerospace
Institute and selected universities.
For more
information, contact Walter Merrill.
Call: 440-734-0094, Fax: 440/7340686, E-mail: MerrillW-C@battelle.org
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