A research team led by Associate Professor Takashi Ikuno from Tokyo University of Science has created an artificial synapse that could revolutionize how AI processes visual information at the edge of networks.
Published in Scientific Reports on May 12, 2025, the breakthrough device combines two different dye-sensitized solar cells that respond differently to various wavelengths of light. Unlike conventional optoelectronic artificial synapses that require external power sources, this synapse generates its electricity via solar energy conversion, making it particularly suitable for edge computing applications where energy efficiency is crucial.
The system can distinguish colors with a resolution of 10 nanometers across the visible spectrum, approaching the discrimination level of the human eye. It exhibits bipolar responses, generating positive voltage under blue light and negative voltage under red light, enabling it to perform complex logic operations without additional circuitry.
"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," remarks Dr. Ikuno. The team demonstrated the device's capabilities by using it in a physical reservoir computing framework to recognize different human movements recorded in red, green, and blue, achieving an impressive 82% accuracy when classifying 18 different combinations of colors and movements using a single device.
The implications of this research extend across multiple industries. In autonomous vehicles, these devices could enable more efficient recognition of traffic lights, road signs, and obstacles. In healthcare, they could power wearable devices that monitor vital signs like blood oxygen levels with minimal battery drain. For consumer electronics, this technology could lead to smartphones and augmented reality headsets with dramatically improved battery life while maintaining sophisticated visual recognition capabilities.
As edge computing continues to grow, with Gartner predicting 75% of enterprise data will be processed at the edge by 2025, innovations like this self-powered artificial synapse will be crucial for enabling AI capabilities in resource-constrained environments.