Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing the way computing is performed to cope with real-world, ill-defined tasks for which traditional algorithms fail. AI requires significant memory access, thus running into the von Neumann bottleneck when implemented in standard computing platforms. In this respect, low-latency energy-efficient in-memory computing can be achieved by exploiting emerging memristive devices, given their ability to emulate synaptic plasticity, which provides a path to design large-scale brain-inspired spiking neural networks (SNNs). Several plasticity rules have been described in the brain and their coexistence in the same network largely expands the computational capabilities of a given circuit. In this work, starting from the electrical characterization and modeling of the memristor device, we propose a neuro-synaptic architecture that co-integrates in a unique platform with a single type of synaptic device to implement two distinct learning rules, namely, the spike-timing-dependent plasticity (STDP) and the Bienenstock-Cooper-Munro (BCM). This architecture, by exploiting the aforementioned learning rules, successfully addressed two different tasks of unsupervised learning.

Ferroelectric transistors (FeFETs) based on doped hafnium oxide (HfO2) have received much attention due to their technological potential in terms of scalability, high-speed, and low-power operation. Unfortunately, however, HfO2-FeFETs also suffer from persistent reliability challenges, specifically affecting retention, endurance, and variability. A deep understanding of the reliability physics of HfO2-FeFETs is an essential prerequisite for the successful commercialization of this promising technology. In this article, we review the literature about the relevant reliability aspects of HfO2-FeFETs. We initially focus on the reliability physics of ferroelectric capacitors, as a prelude to a comprehensive analysis of FeFET reliability. Then, we interpret key reliability metrics of the FeFET at the device level (i.e., retention, endurance, and variability) based on the physical mechanisms previously identified. Finally, we discuss the implications of device-level reliability metrics at both the circuit and system levels. Our integrative approach connects apparently unrelated reliability issues and suggests mitigation strategies at the device, circuit, or system level. We conclude this article by proposing a set of research opportunities to guide future development in this field.

In this paper, we revisit Boole’s expansion theorem to propose a new synthesis method for implication logic circuits based on memristors. By rewriting the sum-of-products form of Boole’s expansion theorem in terms that are best suited for the implication logic, we develop a generalized rule to derive the sequence of operations needed to realize any logic function written in the classical AND-OR form. The proposed method leverages on multi-input operation, minimizing both the number of steps required to compute a given Boolean function and the number of memristors involved. Moreover, it allows using well-established methods of logic circuit optimization like binary decision diagrams, Karnaugh maps, and heuristic algorithms, that are already implemented in commercial CAD software. The proposed method allows a fair comparison between the performance of CMOS and implication logic implementations of the same logic function under the same degree of optimization, and is shown to outperform existing approaches. Possible device-circuit co-design strategies to optimize circuit performance are finally discussed.

BioJava is an open-source project that provides a Java library for processing biological data. The project aims to simplify bioinformatic analyses by implementing parsers, data structures, and algorithms for common tasks in genomics, structural biology, ontologies, phylogenetics, and more. Since 2012, we have released two major versions of the library (4 and 5) that include many new features to tackle challenges with increasingly complex macromolecular structure data. BioJava requires Java 8 or higher and is freely available under the LGPL 2.1 license. The project is hosted on GitHub at https://github.com/biojava/biojava. More information and documentation can be found online on the BioJava website (http://www.biojava.org) and tutorial (https://github.com/biojava/biojava-tutorial). All inquiries should be directed to the GitHub page or the BioJava mailing list (http://lists.open-bio.org/mailman/listinfo/biojava-l).

In this paper we investigate the effect of the contact force in Contact-Mode TriboElectric Devices (CM-TED). In this kind of devices, the generated output voltage and the electrical energy harvested from mechanical impacts depend on the contact force. The number of impacts and the contact force influences also the surface charge density of the triboelectric layers of CM -TED. This is confirmed by the measurements carried out on the low-cost CM -TED prototypes we realized using commercial silicone as triboelectric material. The effect of the impact force has been included into a device model suitable for both dielectric-to-dielectric and contact-to-dielectric triboelectric devices. The model predicts the output voltage and power at given conditions and it can be used to design ultra-low cost triboelectric energy harvesters. The realized prototypes provide up to 5.511W when subjected to repetitive impacts with a contact force of 65N.

In this paper, an active system for safety enhancement in industrial and off-highway vehicles using interchangeable implements is presented. The system, applied to the real case study of automatic identification of implements connected to a telehandler, is developed by adopting a hardware-software codesign approach. It is comprised of two devices: the Illuminator-Gateway Device (IGD) and the End Device (ED). Differently from other similar solutions, the system embeds a complete radio frequency (RF) power delivery system that is compliant with the regulations in force in Europe and in North America to extend the battery lifetime of the ED. In particular, the IGD, positioned on the free end of the telescopic arm of the telehandler, supplies the RF energy required for the operations of the ED and acts as a gateway sending the data received from the ED to the other Electronic Control Units (ECUs) of the vehicle. The ED, instead, is mounted on the connected implement, collects the RF energy delivered by the IGD, and wirelessly sends the unique identifier, the key parameters, and the calculated effective working time of the implement. This information can be used by the main ECU of the vehicle for safety-related purposes and programmed maintenance. Experimental results show that the implemented RF power delivery system is able to gather up to 63% of the power required by the ED when it is on duty, thus significantly extending its battery lifetime.

In this paper a system for the remote powering of low power electronic devices is presented. The system has been applied to a real industrial application allowing to enhance active safety in industrial vehicles. It is comprised of two main devices: i) the End Device (ED) with an embedded Radio Frequency (RF) energy harvester; ii) the Illuminator-Gateway Device (IGD) with an embedded RF power transmitter. Thanks to the optimization of the customized dual band Planar Inverted Folded Antenna (PIFA) used, the ULP architecture of the ED, the hardware-software co-design approach used and the optimization of the ED firmware, the proposed system is able to provide up to the 63% of the power required by the ED when it is on duty.

In this paper, we present an energetically autonomous wireless sensor network (WSN) device designed to enhance safety in vehicles capable to connect extra gear/equipment to the main chassis. The proposed system allows the vehicle stability control system to automatically recognize the connected trailer or implement through a purposely designed WSN device, which is integrated into trailer/implement and wirelessly sends its identification number. The WSN device we developed integrates also a novel RF energy harvesting circuit which gathers the energy from an 868MHz RF signal source, which is purposely transmitted from the vehicle towards the trailer or implement for remote powering. Measurements performed on fabricated WSN system prototypes show that the RF harvester can gather up to ≈50uW@3m from the RF power source with efficiency higher than 30% over a range of 10dBm. The combination of the RF energy harvesting circuit with the ultra-low power architecture and a custom task manager designed for the WSN system allows to further increase primary battery lifetime, making the wireless system capable to operate autonomously for several years.

The authors present an innovative wireless embedded system for logistic applications: it is a prototype of a portable appliance to manage operations in production activity. The system is based on a wearable device which is able to read products codes and allows the system to guide users through the different phases of warehouse's everyday life; by means of wireless IEEE 802.15.4 standard - on the ISM 2.4 GHz band - the system can transfer data, service and control messages and commands to and from its coupled management server. Moreover by an ad-hoc procedure based on a weighted minimum mean square error (W-MMSE) localization algorithm, the system is able to localize users within a typical logistic scenario. The system is addressed to retail markets, pharmacies, porterage and logistic activities thus allowing the user to work more efficiently and employing mobile a more ergonomic terminal: from intensive picking to packing, from load of goods from lines to lists and warehouse checks.

We present a novel and innovative wireless tracking system for service vehicles in areas where the vehicles position could affect people security and operational functionalities; a communication system to acquire and transmit mobile agents GPS position data to an area control station has been studied and implemented. As mobile agents (vehicles) are free to move over the operational area, the target of the system is to provide a reliable tracking service employing a wireless backbone, comprised of fixed stations. The novel solution proposed here will manage the communication between mobile agents and the backbone network with a specific AODV routing protocol, and the static backbone network with a co-existent different customized OLSR routing protocol

E/sup 2/PROM memory devices are widely used in embedded applications. For an efficient design flow, a correct modeling of these memory cells in every operation condition becomes more and more important, especially due to power consumption limitations. Although E/sup 2/PROM cells have being used for a long time, very few compact models have been developed. Here, we present a complete compact model based on an original procedure to calculate the floating gate potential in DC conditions, without the need of any capacitive coupling coefficient. This model is designed as a modular structure, so to simplify program/erase and reliability simulations. Program/erase and leakage currents are included by means of simple voltage-controlled current sources implementing their analytical expression. It can be used to simulate memory cells both during read operation (DC conditions) and during program and erase (transient conditions) giving always very accurate results. We show also that, provided there are good descriptions of degradation mechanisms, the same model can be used also for reliability simulations, predicting charge loss due to tunnel oxide degradation.

The aim of this paper is to give a thorough overview of flash memory cells. Basic operations and charge-injection mechanisms that are most commonly used in actual flash memory cells are reviewed to provide an understanding of the underlying physics and principles in order to appreciate the large number of device structures, processing technologies, and circuit designs presented in the literature. New cell structures and architectural solutions have been surveyed to highlight the evolution of the flash memory technology, oriented to both reducing cell size and upgrading product functions. The subject is of extreme interest: new concepts involving new materials, structures, principles, or applications are being continuously introduced. The worldwide semiconductor memory market seems ready to accept many new applications in fields that are not specific to traditional nonvolatile memories.