Course details

Bio-Inspired Computers

BIN Acad. year 2011/2012 Summer semester 5 credits

Current academic year

This course introduces computational models and computers which have appeared at the intersection of hardware and artificial intelligence in the recent years as an attempt to solve traditionally hard computational problems. The course surveys relevant theoretical models, reconfigurable architectures and computational intelligence techniques inspired at the levels of phylogeny, ontogeny and epigenesis. In particular, the following topics will be discussed: evolutionary design, evolvable hardware, cellular systems, embryonic hardware, molecular computers and nanotechnology. Typical applications will illustrate the mentioned approaches.

Guarantor

Sekanina Lukáš, prof. Ing., Ph.D. (DCSY)

Language of instruction

Czech

Completion

Examination

Time span

  • 26 hrs lectures
  • 8 hrs pc labs
  • 18 hrs projects

Department

Department of Computer Systems (UPSY)

Subject specific learning outcomes and competences

Students will be able to utilize evolutionary algorithms to design electronic circuits. They will be able to model, simulate and implement non-conventional, in particular bio-inspired, computational systems.

Understanding the relation between computers (computing) and some natural processes.

Learning objectives

To understand the principles of bio-inspired computational systems. To be able to use the bio-inspired techniques in the phase of design, implementation and runtime of a computational device.

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

There are no prerequisites

Syllabus of lectures

  1. Introduction, inspiration in biology, natural computing
  2. Limits of abstract and physical computing
  3. Reconfigurable computing devices
  4. Creative evolutionary design
  5. Cartesian genetic programming
  6. Evolutionary design of digital circuits
  7. Evolutionary circuit design, extreme environments
  8. Evolvable hardware, applications
  9. Evolution and development
  10. Embryonic electronics, cellular computational platforms, Cell Matrix
  11. DNA computing
  12. Nanotechnology and molecular electronics
  13. Recent trends

Syllabus of computer exercises

  1. Evolutionary design of combinational circuits
  2. Virtual reconfigurable circuits
  3. Celulární automaty
  4. Cell Matrix

 

Progress assessment

Study evaluation is based on marks obtained for specified items. Minimimum number of marks to pass is 50.

None

Controlled instruction

Mid-term exam, project, computer labs assignments. The minimal number of points which can be obtained from the final exam is 23. Otherwise, no points will be assigned to a student.

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