Australian engineers develop tiny, brain-like visual processor

SYDNEY, May 13 (Xinhua) -- Australian engineers have developed a tiny device that mimics the human brain's ability to see, process and remember visual information, without needing an external computer, the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) said on Tuesday.

The innovation could revolutionize autonomous vehicles, robotics and other advanced technologies by enabling instant visual processing, said a RMIT press release.

Neuromorphic vision systems replicate the brain's analogue processing, significantly cutting energy use for complex visual tasks compared to today's digital technologies, said the research team's leader, Prof. Sumeet Walia, director of the RMIT Center for Opto-electronic Materials and Sensors.

Their work combines neuromorphic materials with advanced signal processing in a device made from molybdenum disulfide, a metal compound capable of mimicking neuron-like behavior, the release said.

This device can instantly detect changes in its environment and store them as memories, much like a brain, said Walia, adding that it avoids the energy-hungry data processing required by conventional systems.

In lab experiments, the device identified hand movements using edge detection, a method that processes only the parts of an image where change occurs, cutting down on data and power usage, according to the study published in Advanced Materials Technologies.

With potential applications ranging from faster response times in automated vehicles to robotic systems, the researchers believe their innovation could one day enhance safety and efficiency in complex environments.

The team is now working to scale the technology from a single-pixel prototype to full sensor arrays. They also plan to explore new materials for infrared vision, which could lead to smart environmental sensors capable of detecting emissions, pathogens, or pollutants in real time, the release said. ■