High speed intelligent machine through programmable hardware: application to genomic systems

The paper proposes a new technology for intelligent machines based on the concept of programmable hardware. To build an intelligent system, the designer has to adapt it to the problem. First we show that programmable hardware is an intermediate step for building configurations, in order to choose the best architecture. In this case, the tasks are performed in a time period that respects human cognitive capacities. Next is detailed a multi level model composed of the cognitive, software and hardware levels. An experimental platform has been built, based on programmable hardware, and used in a "Grand Challenge" problem: knowledge discovery in genetic sequence databases, to compare the relative efficiencies of programmable hardware and classical Von Neumann based architecture. Programmable hardware is shown to have a significantly faster response time, which is essential for modern day intelligent machine user interaction.