Lightweight error-tolerant edge detection using memristor-enabled stochastic computing.

The demand for efficient edge computer vision has spurred the development of stochastic computing for image processing. Memristors, by introducing their inherent switching stochasticity into computation, readily enable stochastic image processing. Here, we present a lightweight, error-tolerant edge detection approach based on memristor-enabled stochastic computing. By integrating memristors into compact logic circuits, we realise lightweight stochastic logics for stochastic number encoding and processing with well-regulated probabilities and correlations. This stochastic and probabilistic computational nature allows the stochastic logics to perform edge detection in edge visual scenarios characterised by high-level errors. As a demonstration, we implement a hardware edge detection operator using the stochastic logics, and prove its exceptional performance with 95% less energy consumption while withstanding 50% bit-flips. The results underscore the potential of our stochastic edge detection approach for developing efficient edge visual hardware for autonomous driving, virtual and augmented reality, medical imaging diagnosis, and beyond.