Page 17 - Autumn 2024

Industry News
NEW HYBRID MEMORY
BREAKTHROUGH FOR EDGE
COMPUTING
A team of scientists at CEA-Leti in Grenoble has,
with the assistance of several French research
centres, developed a new hybrid memory
technology that is expected to enable Edge devices
to learn from real-world data without having to rely
on energy-intensive cloud infrastructure.
TThe breakthrough combines two previously
incompatible memory approaches, namely
ferroelectric capacitors and memresistors, into a
single CMOS compatible architecture.
Until now, hardware designers have had to choose
between memory types that optimised for inference
of for training. Memresistors are energy-efficient
for read operations and are good for inference, but
lack the precision needed for training. Ferroelectric
capacitors, on the other hand, perform fast and
efficient updates, but destroy stored data once read,
making them unsuitable for inference.
The new system supports both inference and
training of artificial neural networks directly on-
chip. Fabrication and testing was undertaken on an
18,432-device array using standard 130nm CMOS
technology, demonstrating that a single memory
unit could act either as a ferroelectric capacitor or
as a memresistor depending on how it is electrically
formed. This enables digital weight storage for
training and analogue expression for inference within
the same hardware.
The advance is anticipated to pave the way for
more adaptive and energy-efficient edge systems
from autonomous vehicles to medical sensors and
industrial monitors, which require on-device learning
to adapt to changing conditions.
Reference: Barnard, L., ‘Grenoble Team overcomes Edge AI Hurdle
with Dual-mode Memory Breakthrough’, Electronic Specifier, 26th.
September
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National
National
NATIONAL
Electronics
Electronics
Competition
Competition
ELECTRONICS
COMPETITION
National Electronics
Entries Entries National Electronics
Competition
Competition
The benefits to you: The benefits to you:
• Learn how to write a technical paper
• Learn how to write a technical paper An exclusive competition for students
An exclusive competition for students
of Arkwright affiliated Schools.
• Have your project promoted in an of Arkwright affiliated Schools.
• Have your project promoted in an
An exclusive competition for students of
Institution publication Institution publication The Institution of Electronics was founded in 1930.
• Be in with a chance of winning The Institution of Electronics was founded in 1930.
• Be in with a chance of winning
a category award
a category award Arkwright affiliated Schools. After a period of relative inactivity the Institution is partnering the
After a period of relative inactivity the Institution is partnering the
Arkwright Scholarships Trust to rejuvenate its membership with the
• Join the Institution of Electronics
• Join the Institution of Electronics Arkwright Scholarships Trust to rejuvenate its membership with the
and help guide its future development
’brightest and best’ future leaders of UK electronics and to provide
and help guide its future development ’brightest and best’ future leaders of UK electronics and to provide
benefit to the UK’s electronics education and industry.
benefit to the UK’s electronics education and industry.
This competition will give the Institution the
This competition will give the Institution the chance to champion the
Entry requirements: Entry requirements: This competition will give the Institution the chance to champion the
cause of young people pursuing electronics projects within the
cause of young people pursuing electronics projects within the
chance to champion the cause of young
• Applicants must attend an Arkwright-affiliated school,
curriculum, extra-curricular and at home.
• Applicants must attend an Arkwright-affiliated school, curriculum, extra-curricular and at home.
but applicants do not have to be Arkwright Engineering
but applicants do not have to be Arkwright Engineering Applicants become student members of the Institution and will
Applicants become student members of the Institution and will
Scholars
Scholars
people pursuing electronics projects within t
be invited to join the task-force that will plan the next phase of the he
be invited to join the task-force that will plan the next phase of the
• Applicants must complete a project where electronics
• Applicants must complete a project where electronics Institution’s development as an incubator for future leaders of
Institution’s development as an incubator for future leaders of
are integral to its successful function
are integral to its successful function
the electronics industry.
curriculum, extra-curricular and at home.
the electronics industry.
• Application is free to students holding student
• Application is free to students holding student
membership of the Institution of Electronics
membership of the Institution of Electronics
• Applicants must report on their project using a
Applicants become student members of th
• Applicants must report on their project using a What to do next?
What to do next?e
simplified ‘Technical Paper’ format and a two-minute
simplified ‘Technical Paper’ format and a two-minute
video video
Institution and will be invited to join the task-force
• Read the application guidelines on the next page
Entry categories: • Read the application guidelines on the next page
Entry categories: • Read the example technical paper
• Read the example technical paper
that will plan the next phase of the Institution’s
• Complete your electronics project
1. Any student -Year 11 (England & Wales),
1. Any student -Year 11 (England & Wales), • Complete your electronics project
S4 (Scotland), Year 12 (Northern Ireland)
S4 (Scotland), Year 12 (Northern Ireland) • Complete your technical paper and video
development as an incubator for future leaders
• Complete your technical paper and video
2. Any student -Year 12 & 13 (England & Wales),
• Post the video to YouTube
2. Any student -Year 12 & 13 (England & Wales), • Post the video to YouTube
S5 & S6 (Scotland), Year 13 & 14 (Northern Ireland)
S5 & S6 (Scotland), Year 13 & 14 (Northern Ireland)
• Submit your application to the Institution by email
of the electronics industry.
• Submit your application to the Institution by email
3. Arkwright Scholars
3. Arkwright Scholars • Ensure you hold current membership of the Institution of Electronics
• Ensure you hold current membership of the Institution of Electronics
4. Arkwright alumni in 1st / 2nd year of an
4. Arkwright alumni in 1st / 2nd year of an
undergraduate degree
undergraduate degree Registered Charity No. 1091988 - Registered in England & Wales No. 4401993
Registered Charity No. 1091988 - Registered in England & Wales No. 4401993
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