In June 2015, the first-generation Tianjic chip––the first brain-inspired chip—was successfully taped out in the Center for Brain-Inspired Computing Research of Tsinghua University. Taking account of both the mature and widely used deep-learning model and the promising computational neuroscience model, the Tianjic chip achieved an unprecedented heterogeneous integration of Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) and Spiking Neural Networks (SNNs), which can be used for various applications such as image processing, speech recognition, target tracking, etc. An unmanned bicycle was constructed as a demonstrating platform, exclusively powered by 32 first-generation, on which experiments to evaluate the chip’s capability for processing cross-paradigm brain-inspired information like visual target detection, sensing, target tracking, adaptive attitude control were performed.

The team behind this innovation were invited to present a special report at the International Electron Devices Meeting (IEDM) 2015, a spearhead international conference on electronic devices, and then publish the full text in December 2015.