self-Powered AI Synapse Mimics Human Vision for Edge Computing
Updated May 12, 2025
A team at the Tokyo University of science, led by Takashi Ikuno, has created a self-powered artificial synapse capable of highly precise color recognition. This innovation addresses the challenge of deploying visual recognition in edge devices by mimicking the human visual system’s efficiency.
The device, detailed in Scientific Reports, uses dye-sensitized solar cells to generate its own power from light. This eliminates the need for external power sources, making it ideal for applications requiring energy efficiency. the artificial intelligence system can distinguish colors wiht a resolution of 10 nanometers,approaching human eye capabilities.
The system also exhibits bipolar responses, generating positive voltage under blue light and negative voltage under red light. This allows it to perform complex logic operations, reducing the number of devices needed. The research highlights the potential for next-generation optoelectronic devices in low-power AI systems with visual recognition.
In a demonstration, the team used the device within a physical reservoir computing framework to recognise human movements recorded in red, green, and blue. The system achieved 82% accuracy in classifying 18 combinations of colors and movements using a single device.
“The results show great potential for the application of this next-generation optoelectronic device, which enables high-resolution color discrimination and logical operations together, to low-power artificial intelligence (AI) systems with visual recognition,” said Dr. Ikuno.
The implications of this advancement span various sectors. Autonomous vehicles could benefit from more efficient recognition of traffic signals and obstacles. Wearable health devices could monitor vital signs with minimal battery usage. Consumer electronics could see improved battery life while maintaining refined visual recognition capabilities.
“We believe this technology will contribute to the realization of low-power machine vision systems with color discrimination capabilities close to those of the human eye, with applications in optical sensors for self-driving cars, low-power biometric sensors for medical use, and portable recognition devices,” remarks Dr. Ikuno.
What’s next
Future research will focus on expanding the capabilities of this technology and exploring its integration into various real-world applications, bringing advanced computer vision to everyday devices.
