The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) is a British Research Council that provides government funding for grants to undertake research and postgraduate degrees in engineering and the physical sciences, mainly to universities in the United Kingdom.
Novel Sensing for UK Defence and Security
Edgy Organism
The Edgy Organism project develops electronic surveillance systems that detect and alert anomalous behavior or identify individuals posing a threat in crowded public spaces. The challenge involves creating systems that are minimally intrusive, operate with limited supervision and power, and adapt in remote or unknown locations for extended periods. The project integrates spiking neural network (SNN) technology into low-power neuromorphic hardware to achieve these goals.
SNN hardware, such as Intel Loihi and True North, reaches a stage of maturity where scalable building blocks of synapses and neurons are available. These devices process data using sophisticated bio-inspired models. The goal of Edgy Organism combines and pushes the boundaries of these technologies to create a system that detects, classifies, and potentially predicts anomalous patterns of life (PoL) by drawing analogies with the nervous system of biological organisms.
The project demonstrates the capabilities of the Edgy Organism system through two real-world scenarios: Stand-off, which involves observing and processing patterns of life from a satellite, and Leave-behind, which entails covert surveillance in close proximity. The concept of Edgy Organism leverages the unique information processing capabilities of the human brain to make fast decisions with minimal computing power. This concept, known as neuromorphic engineering, combines neuroscience and neural network research to create adaptable systems that operate effectively in dynamic environments while meeting low size, weight, and power requirements.
Despite the availability of low SWaP-capable neuromorphic devices like Intel Loihi, the field remains in its early stages and lacks scalability and adaptability for task-driven applications. The Edgy Organism project fills this gap by developing a design methodology, neural network architecture, and low SWaP neuromorphic hardware implementation for autonomous monitoring and decision-making in uncertain environments.
The project draws inspiration from the brain’s processing and representation of data, targeting the Intel Loihi device for its efficiency in running complex SNNs. Principles from the visual cortex and the hippocampal-entorhinal grid-cell system create efficient neural encodings of PoL and build a high-dimensional cognitive map capable of representing and detecting anomalies. The efficiency, resilience, and security of these neural encodings are evaluated in the Stand-off and Leave-behind scenarios.
Overall, the Edgy Organism project revolutionizes surveillance systems by leveraging spiking neural network technology and neuromorphic hardware to create autonomous, low-power, and efficient monitoring systems capable of detecting and reacting to anomalous behavior in various real-world scenarios.
Team
Funding
EPSRC
Partners
Defence Science and Technology Laboratory
The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) in the UK is a key part of the Ministry of Defence. It focuses on scientific research and technology, enhancing national security and military effectiveness through innovations.
His Majesty's Government Communications Centre
His Majesty's Government Communications Centre (HMGCC) in the UK specialises in communication and information systems. It provides secure technology solutions, ensuring government communication integrity and supporting national security with cutting-edge technical expertise.
Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ)
Government Communications Headquarters, commonly known as GCHQ, is an intelligence and security organisation responsible for providing signals intelligence and information assurance to the government and armed forces of the United Kingdom.