Hi D,
Thanks, I must have missed that SBIR. That explains why there's been talk about not needing a processor.
The timing of the SBIR and the annoucement of our 22nm AKD1500 GF reference chip does align very nicely.
For anyone else that missed it:
www.sbir.gov
Release Date:
January 10, 2023
Open Date:
January 10, 2023
Application Due Date:
March 13, 2023
Close Date:
March 13, 2023 (closing in 29 days
The preference is for a prototype processor fabricated in a technology node suitable for the space environment, such as 22-nm FDSOI, which has become increasingly affordable.
Neuromorphic and deep neural net software for point applications has become widespread and is state of the art. Integrated solutions that achieve space-relevant mission capabilities with high throughput and energy efficiency is a critical gap. For example, terrestrial neuromorphic processors such as Intels Cooporation's LoihiTM, Brainchip's AkidaTM, and Google Inc's Tensor Processing Unit (TPUTM) require full host processors for integration for their software development kit (SDK) that are power hungry or limit throughput. This by itself is inhibiting the use of neuromorphic processors for low SWaP space missions.