PROMETHEUS’ vision: is to shatter the boundaries between quantum and neuromorphic photonic processing and merge them into a uniform integrated platform. In particular, the PROMETHEUS’ photonic integrated chip (PIC) will be based on a highly dense silicon on insulator (SOI) Field Programmable Photonic Gate Array (FPPGA) synaptic layer, strengthened by nearly-zero power-consuming non-volatile barium titanate (BTO) phase shifters and co-integrated III-V lasers, that will form an ultra-fast spiking neural layer. Sophisticated packaging, will provide a disruptive, yet robust device able to unravel large-scale neuromorphic-quantum implementations, offering unprecedentedly low power consumption, processing speed and versatility to adapt to a wide pallet of applications.

PROMETHEUS’ multi-purpose photonic platform will be suitable for the exploration of emerging concepts such as spiking networks, reservoir computing, convolutional optical networks and quantum neural networks; aiming to address two key industry-driven applications: high-speed image processing for biomedical/industrial applications (cytometry/laser scanning) and optical signal processing at the network’s edge (signal equalization). Moving a step further, PROMETHEUS’ PIC will be also utilized as a physical root of trust, unlocking its use as a quantum random number generator (QRNG) module and as a cyber-secure photonic physical unclonable function (PUF). These two operations will provide a pivotal advantage to PROMETHEUS’ modules: to act as neuromorphic processors and at the same time, to provide hardware-based authentication and security features derived from quantum key generation.

NEuromorphic Processor Based on qUantum-Dot LAsers

Nebula Project is a research program funded by GSRT-ELIDEK (GR), hosted by the Dept. Informatics & Telecommunications of the National & Kapodistrian University of Athens and particularly the Optical Communications & Photonics Technology Laboratory, whereas it is supported by the Dept. of Photonic & Quantum Sciences of Heriot-Watt University. ​

It focus on the design, optimisation and development of fully isomorphic to biological structures photonic neurons with ultra-fast response  and marginal power consumption. These structures will be incorporated to a electro-optic scheme so as to mimic in the optical domain artificial sensorimotor processing and exploit disruptive computational paradigms like the Reservoir Computing Concept. ​

Its long-term vision is to provide an alternative path for computation harvesting the merits of photonics and neuromoprhic engineering and transforming them to a new paradigm

“SafeIT – Wearable systems for the safety and wellbeing applied in security guards”, Research-Create-Innovate 2nd Cycle, National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF) 2014-2020, 2020

Wearable devices and augmented reality are rapidly evolving and are particularly applicable in the service sector, such as safety, health, education, etc. In the field of security services, in particular the no-contact / lone security positions, device handler technology can offer innovative services. In particular, it can further secure the individual protection of staff in existing security services and improve their mental concentration and perceptual capacity, which assists in decision-making. Portable devices can detect the presence, biometric data of the guardian, and many additional elements that are useful both in the service they perform and the personal safety of the workers.

The goal of the project is to develop systems and applications that will receive and process data from smart wearable to record biometric data for the purposes of health and vital safety monitoring, positioning and presence / commencement / ending of the shift, direct notification and other required services, such as indications of danger, attack, etc. These devices will automatically wirelessly connect with additional equipment (ambient sensors and positional beacons) and their data will be combined with the cameras data. Systems of Augmented / Mixed reality will also be developed in addition to simply record and track signals, more effectively manage the data from incident management center operators and supporting decision-making by the end user (guardian).

Due to the variety of data to be transmitted and stored, a combination of modern signal processing and machine learning techniques is needed through the creation of a knowledge base. The latter will be shaped by the data collected per event. There will also be use of pioneering security techniques which combine multi-parametric authentication, such as the use of biometric elements (something the user is) with equipment components (somethingthe user has), which will be physically resistant to cloning, that is to say they will exhibit structural features that will make them unique. Some of the most important issues that will be addressed in the project are the data transmission security and the use of blockchain technology for secure data storage (protection against unauthorized data alteration, PUF assisted encryption), as well as the use of security technologies to protect personal data (use of nicknames and aliases, PUF reciprocal authentication). In the strand of augmented reality, the technological innovation that the project introduces is multidimensional. More specifically, this project is the first national effort to develop an integrated augmented/mixed reality platform that acts on both the field and the control center. The development of AR interfaces for managing information in the field of security services is an innovation of the project. Also, the development of ergonomic interfaces based on the geometric representation of the area of interest combined with the use of maps in an augmented reality environment is another innovation the project aspires to introduce. Finally, all applications that will be deployed will respect the privacy of users by complying to the requirements of innovative and academically recognized methodologies, while ensuring all the technical and organizational requirements set by the new General Data Protection Regulation 2016/679 (GCC-GDPR) are met.