Geometry & Topology Seminar: "Analog Computing and Dynamicall Systems - from simple to complex"

Shantanu Chakrabartty, Washington University in Saint Louis

Abstract: In the digital era, is there a role for analog ? In this talk I will present a perspective in the defense of analog computing and argue that vast frontiers of unexplored research opportunities exist in this domain. Analog computers operate by exploiting computational primitives inherent in the physics of devices to efficiently implement complex mathematical functions and dynamical systems. I will first illustrate the principles and research opportunities using a very simple analog dynamical system that we have been using for self-powered time-keeping and sensing. And then I will show an example of a much more complex dynamical system model that we have been researching for designing silicon neurons and large-scale neuromorphic architectures.

Host: Xiang Tang