Visual processing platform based on artificial retinas

Abstract

We present a system that integrates a retinomorphic chip into a platform that includes a board with reconfigurable hardware (FPGA device) and a conventional computer in order to evaluate image processing schemes, such as motion detection based on this front-end. We have used an artificial retina that transforms light intensity into spikes and sends them using an event-driven protocol. To set up this development platform, we have built a driver for a board with a FPGA that acts as an interface between the retina and a personal computer in which we store the grabbed spikes. Also, we have developed software modules to test the vision algorithms before programming them in Hardware Description Languages. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2007.