Course detail

Bio-Inspired Computers

FIT-BINAcad. year: 2017/2018

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, embryonal and neural hardware, molecular computers and nanotechnology. Typical applications will illustrate the mentioned approaches.

Language of instruction

Czech

Number of ECTS credits

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Guarantor

prof. Ing. Lukáš Sekanina, Ph.D.

Department

Department of Computer Systems (UPSY)

Learning outcomes of the course unit

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.

Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites

Co-requisites

Not applicable.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Not applicable.

Assesment methods and criteria linked to learning outcomes

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

None

Course curriculum

    Syllabus of lectures:
    1. Introduction, inspiration in biology, entropy and self-organization
    2. Limits of abstract and physical computing
    3. Evolutionary design
    4. Cartesian genetic programming
    5. Reconfigurable computing devices
    6. Evolutionary design of digital circuits
    7. Evolutionary circuit design, extreme environments
    8. Evolvable hardware, applications
    9. Computational development
    10. Embryonal and neural hardware
    11. DNA computing
    12. Nanotechnology and molecular electronics
    13. Recent trends

    Syllabus of computer exercises:
    1. Evolutionary design of combinational circuits
    2. Statistical evaluation of experiments with evolutionary design
    3. Virtual reconfigurable circuits
    4. Celulární automaty

Work placements

Not applicable.

Aims

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.

Specification of controlled education, way of implementation and compensation for absences

Mid-term exam, project, computer labs assignments. 

Recommended optional programme components

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

Floreano D., Mattiussi C.: Bioinspired Artificial Intelligence: Theories, Methods, and Technologies. The MIT Press, Cambridge 2008, ISBN 978-0-262-06271-8
Miller J.F.: Cartesian Genetic Programming, Springer Verlag, 2011, ISBN 978-3-642-17309-7
Rozenberg G., Bäck T., Kok J.N.: Handbook of Natural Computing, Springer 2012, 2052 p., ISBN 978-3540929093
Sekanina L., Vašíček Z., Růžička R., Bidlo M., Jaroš J., Švenda P.: Evoluční hardware: Od automatického generování patentovatelných invencí k sebemodifikujícím se strojům. Academia Praha 2009, ISBN 978-80-200-1729-1
Trefzer M., Tyrrell A.M.: Evolvable Hardware - From Practice to Application. Berlin: Springer Verlag, 2015, ISBN 978-3-662-44615-7

Recommended reading

Not applicable.

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme IT-MSC-2 Master's

    branch MBI , 1 year of study, summer semester, compulsory
    branch MSK , 0 year of study, summer semester, elective
    branch MMM , 0 year of study, summer semester, compulsory-optional
    branch MBS , 0 year of study, summer semester, elective
    branch MIS , 0 year of study, summer semester, elective
    branch MIN , 0 year of study, summer semester, compulsory-optional
    branch MGM , 0 year of study, summer semester, elective
    branch MPV , 0 year of study, summer semester, compulsory-optional

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

26 hod., optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

prof. Ing. Lukáš Sekanina, Ph.D.

Syllabus

  1. Introduction, inspiration in biology, entropy and self-organization
  2. Limits of abstract and physical computing
  3. Evolutionary design
  4. Cartesian genetic programming
  5. Reconfigurable computing devices
  6. Evolutionary design of digital circuits
  7. Evolutionary circuit design, extreme environments
  8. Evolvable hardware, applications
  9. Computational development
  10. Embryonal and neural hardware
  11. DNA computing
  12. Nanotechnology and molecular electronics
  13. Recent trends

Exercise in computer lab

8 hod., optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

prof. Ing. Lukáš Sekanina, Ph.D.

Syllabus

  1. Evolutionary design of combinational circuits
  2. Statistical evaluation of experiments with evolutionary design
  3. Virtual reconfigurable circuits
  4. Celulární automaty

Project

18 hod., optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

prof. Ing. Lukáš Sekanina, Ph.D.