Groundbreaking Vision System Mimics Brain to Cut E-Waste

A new energy-efficient artificial vision system, inspired by the human brain and partly made from honey, promises to lessen the burden of electronic waste. Engineers from the University of Glasgow, in collaboration with researchers from São Paulo State University and Hong Kong Metropolitan University, have crafted a system that employs organic, biodegradable, and recyclable materials. This innovative design allows the system to ‘see’ and ‘remember’ colors while consuming minimal power.

The device, known as an Electrolyte-Gated Organic Field-Effect Transistor (EGOFET), integrates three essential functions: sensing light, processing information, and storing it in memory. Remarkably, it retains information even when powered off, showcasing a feature called non-volatility. This capability could make it particularly effective for real-world uses, such as in autonomous drones or smart security systems.

The EGOFET improves upon previous artificial vision systems that relied on silicon-based CMOS sensors, which demand substantial computing power and energy. Theodoros Serghiou, from the University of Glasgow’s James Watt School of Engineering, led the development. He explained, “In conventional computing, there’s an inherent latency from having to fetch and transfer data in CMOS-based systems due to the physical separation between the processing and memory units. Our new memory-based device, however, performs these functions simultaneously in-memory, similar to how synapses in the human brain work.”

The team built their prototype on a glass substrate using gold electrodes, a layer of organic, photosensitive perylene, and honey as an electrolyte. This setup allows the system to act as a photodetector, producing current spikes that vary with different light wavelengths and intensities. The EGOFET stands out for its energy efficiency, requiring only 2.4 picojoules of energy per spiking event, making it one of the most efficient devices of its kind.

Professor Jeff Kettle, the paper’s corresponding author, noted, “Our device is able to emulate key synaptic behaviors such as short-term and long-term plasticity with high fidelity.” The research has implications beyond artificial vision, extending into sustainable neuromorphic computing and energy-efficient electronics. The team plans to scale the prototype into arrays for better image recognition, paving the way for eco-friendly artificial vision systems.

Once the device reaches the end of its useful life, the glass and gold components can be recycled, while the organic parts will biodegrade naturally. The research, titled ‘Sustainable and Tunable Synaptic Electrolyte-Gated Organic Field-Effect Transistors (EGOFETs) for Light Adaptive Visual Perceptive Systems,’ is published in Advanced Functional Materials. It received support from the UKRI Responsible Electronics and Circular Technology Centre and the São Paulo Research Foundation in Brazil.