Horiuchi
Group
(Computational Sensorimotor Systems Laboratory)
Silicon Neuroethology
Lab: A.V. Williams Bldg 2270B
(Prof.
Horiuchi's office: Room 2231)
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Institute for Systems Research
Neuroscience and Cognitive Sciences Program
(NACS)
Center for Comparative and Evolutionary
Biology of Hearing (C-CEBH)
Applied Mathematics and Scientific
Computation Program (AMSC)
University of Maryland,
College Park, MD
(301) 405-7457
The lab's vision is to develop real-time neural
models of the brain to understand how animals perceive, interact with, and
learn about their environment. We are pursuing this by developing
models of brains at the cellular, network, systems, and behavioral levels of
abstraction and by testing these models in realistic sensory
environments. Our current research is focused on the bat
echolocation system, a system rich in interesting scientific questions and
potential for commercial, industrial, and other applications. This
is called the "Microchipoptera
Project"
The Horiuchi group research consists of four main areas:
Bat Echolocation Modeling:
Using both physical models and software simulation we are striving to
understand the flow and processing of ultrasonic echolocation signals in the
brain that drive behavior. Part of this work is a collaborative
effort with Prof. Cynthia Moss (Auditory Neuroethology Lab, UMD)
Neuromorphic VLSI Implementation (primarily
analog and spike-based processing)
Starting from the simulations described above, we are designing electronic
implementations of neural systems for use in real-time robotic systems to
explore neurally-inspired algorithms in real environments. We are also
interested in the development of low-power sensory and motor systems that could
benefit the field of robotics. We are currently developing VLSI models of
the bat cochlea, the echo direction-sensitive cells of the lateral superior
olive (LSO), the elaboration of these direction-sensitive responses and echo
delay-tuned cells of the inferior colliculus, the sensorimotor cells of the
superior colliculus, and their role in controlling behavior. We are also
pursuing new projects in learning on silicon to improve the performance of
analog VLSI implementations and perceptual capabilities for robotics. (see some movies in 'Multimedia') [Click here to go to the Microchipoptera Project]
Neural Recording and Radio Telemetry
In a collaborative effort with the Auditory Neuroethology Lab (Cynthia Moss
- Psychology Dept and with Pamela Abshire - ECE/ISR), we are developing a
number of different telemetry devices to measure: bat sonar vocalizations in
flight, extracellular neural responses from the bat in flight, EMG and field
potentials from the muscles in flight. These will be transmitted
via radio signals to a video-synchronized multi-channel data acquisition
system. (see some photos in 'Multimedia')
Bat-like Sonar Motion-Planning on Mobile Robots
In addition to neuromorphic VLSI implementation
of better known neural models of bat echolocation, we are also working with
software simulations to develop new neural models of higher-level bat
echolocation behavior. We work with slower, but more flexible computing
systems that can operate on "live" sonar data to solve higher-level
problems of data integration and decision making. We are exploring new
ideas in neural computation where only behavioral data is currently
available. [click here to go to the Batmobile
page]
Assorted Other Projects:
- An EMG-controlled Tail (July 2004)
- A Low Power Horizon Detection
Chip for Micro-aerial Vehicles
Lab Afilliations:
Institute for Neuromorphic Engineering
("The Institute Without Walls")
Neural Systems Laboratory (Shamma
Lab, UMD)
Telluride Neuromorphic Engineering
Workshop (Telluride, CO, USA)
The CapoCaccia Neuromorphic Engineering Workshop
(Sardinia, Italy)
Institute for Neuroinformatics
(Zurich, Switzerland)
This work is supported by grants from the following
agencies (Thanks for your support!) :
NSF (CISE, Science of Learning Centers)
AFOSR
NIMH
NIBIB / NIH
DARPA
ExpressPCB
WowWee Toys
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This
page was updated on 12/06/04

