A 2.793 <i>μ</i>W Near-Threshold Neuronal Population Dynamics Trajectory Filter for Reliable Simultaneous Localization and Mapping

This work presents an algorithm hardware co-design implementing a digital neuronal population dynamics simulator intended for the trajectory error correction task within a simultaneous localization and mapping workflow. A custom discretized procedural algorithm approximating a neuronal population dynamics-based inference operation is developed for mapping onto an ultra-lightweight digital macro featuring massively parallel in-situ processing techniques. Fabricated using a 40nm technology, the test chip features a <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$22\times 22$ </tex-math></inline-formula> neuron array with 0.1358mm2 core area and provides a 12-bit computing precision. A time-multiplexed processing element design prevents the use of excessive silicon area. Accomplished via extensive data reuse through massively parallel processing-in-memory architecture attached to a custom I/O interface, a single inference operation is completed within 3277 clock cycles, providing 200 inferences per second operating at a low frequency of 0.667Mhz with a 0.5V core supply and consuming sub-10-<inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\mu $ </tex-math></inline-formula>W power.