A Wave Digital Approach Towards Bio-inspired Computing Using Memristive Networks

Abstract Bio-inspired computing is a promising approach to tackle problems that are too complex for state-of-the-art computing approaches. It is a highly interdisciplinary field of research as it requires expertise, which ranges from understanding biological organisms (psychology, physiology zoology, biology, bio-chemistry) to building electrical circuits (electrical engineering, physics). This chapter focuses on theoretical circuits designs and concepts to abstractly map biological behavior to idealized circuits. We utilize a special digital emulation technique as a tool to digitally replicate circuits and hence bridge the gap from biological behavioral observation to hardware circuit designs. Application examples include parameter optimization of a neuronal oscillator, gait pattern generation, multi-neuron communication, neuroplasticity and optical illusions. The fundamental circuit elemental to realize several bio-inspired circuit designs is the memristor, which is essentially a resistor with a memory. Since memristors are hard to fabricate with the current state of technology, digital emulators are a useful tool to accelerate development cycles and investigate the circuits of the next generation.