[Coco] FPGA

[N8WQ]

Hi Andrew,
Thanks for responding to my message. What you have to say is very 
interesting! I don't think I will be delving into AI anytime soon though. :)

Alan Jones

-- 
N8WQ - Canal Winchester, Ohio
http://exwn8jef.googlepages.com/home



Andrew wrote:
> Alan,
>
> You have already been given a lot good of information about FPGAs and 
> such, so I won't reiterate that.
>
> What I will mention is that if you ever want to see the tantalizing 
> possibilities of FPGAs, google the terms "CAM Brain", "Hugo DeGaris", 
> "roboneko", "Brain Building", "StarLabs" and "Genobyte".
>
> For those not in the know:
>
> Back in the mid-to-late 1990s, Hugo DeGaris came up with this scheme 
> to build what was essentially a CA (cellular automata) driven, 
> evolvable neural-net system built in hardware, based on a specific 
> model of Xilinx FPGA (dig deep enough, and you will find out which 
> FPGA, which is no longer manufactured, and why it was ideal). 
> Basically, the system would evolve a neural-net, in which each FPGA 
> represented a portion of the 3D logical substructure (cube shaped, 
> from images) which contained a portion of the neural network, the 
> interconnections and such being shaped by an evolutionary CA 
> algorithm. The FPGA simulated the neurons and the network they formed.
>
> DeGaris' idea was to build a brain using this method - his first goal 
> was that of the equivalent of a cat's brain (hence, the roboneko 
> project, which was a robot to simulate a cat, which the CAM Brain 
> would control - it looked kinda like Sony's Aibo - but was never 
> built, only modeled). Some sub-goals were met with success (I think 
> some nets were evolved to discriminate sounds and the like). A few of 
> the initial CAM Brain machines were built by Genobyte and shipped to a 
> few places around the world, mainly ATR in Japan and StarLabs in 
> Brussels, which is defunct (there are pictures - the case of these 
> initial machines were designed to look like a slice of the brain 
> cortex - very nice industrial design).
>
> I remember at the time (late-1990's) that there was a lot of 
> discussion on the merits of the system, what it could or couldn't do, 
> and whether the whole thing was a scam or smoke and mirrors. It is 
> still unclear what the verdict is. Hugo DeGaris has bounced around to 
> other places since then, first to a campus in Utah, then later (and 
> currently) to a university in China. He is a bit "out there" with his 
> ideas, it may be a case of overworked genius or what-have-you (for 
> instance, his ideas which led to his book, The Artilect War). He is a 
> controversial figure in the AI community (though not shunned like 
> Mentifex).
>
> I don't know what happened to the machines which were built; it's a 
> very strange case to dig into, and I have never found any real 
> answers. The idea seems sound, but at the same time I only lurk on the 
> edges so I don't know what the real truth is. I am pretty certain 
> though that real hardware and development was done, but due to lack of 
> quick progress (the bane of AI), the dot-COM bust, as well as a whole 
> host of other reasons (not the least of which is probably DeGaris' 
> personality, though that is just speculation on my part), this project 
> fizzed out. Because of all of this, his work seems like a scam to get 
> money, bouncing from benefactor-to-benefactor.
>
> What the ultimate truth is remains speculation. But the idea of using 
> FPGAs to evolve neural networks remains a fascinating area of 
> research, at least for me (I only wish I had the time and money to 
> learn FPGA design and programming, etc - but it is something that 
> looks like it would take several years of intense study to really 
> understand it to the point of performing my own experiments in the 
> area, and I need another project like a hole in the head).
>
> -- Andrew L. Ayers, Glendale, Arizona
>
>> Message: 6
>> Date: Wed, 18 Feb 2009 14:51:43 -0500
>> From: N8WQ <exwn8jef at gmail.com>
>> Subject: [Coco] FPGA
>> To: CoCoList for Color Computer Enthusiasts <coco at maltedmedia.com>
>> Message-ID: <499C66CF.6020001 at gmail.com>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
>>
>> Folks,
>> Occasionally I hear the term FPGA used in various discussions here on 
>> the list. Can anyone recommend any books, tutorials, or url's that 
>> can help me learn about this subject?
>>
>> Alan Jones
>
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