The research strategy of the SPINE project (‘Spiking Neuron Circuits and Systems’) was the following:
- Development of an ultra-low-power consumption neuron
- Bio-inspired neuron design allowing the control of spike amplitude, duration and frequency.
- Use of a CMOS industrial technology, combining manufacturing flexibility and rapid industrial transfer
- Artificial neurons and synapses with a small area for ultra-large-scale integration
- Fully analog design allowing in continuous time processing.
The artificial neuron circuit is very simple (only six transistors operating in the subthreshold mode) and its energy consumption is several orders of magnitude lower than artificial neurons reported in the literature, but also two to three orders of magnitude lower than the energy consumption of living neurons.