Abstract: A mobile brain-based device BBD includes a mobile base equipped with sensors and effectors (Neurally Organized Mobile Adaptive Device or NOMAD), which is guided by a simulated nervous system that is an analogue of cortical and sub-cortical areas of the brain required for visual processing, decision-making, reward, and motor responses. These simulated cortical and sub-cortical areas are reentrantly connected and each area contains neuronal units representing both the mean activity level and the relative timing of the activity of groups of neurons. The brain-based device BBD learns to discriminate among multiple objects with shared visual features, and associated “target” objects with innately preferred auditory cues. Globally distributed neuronal circuits that correspond to distinct objects in the visual field of NOMAD 10 are activated. These circuits, which are constrained by a reentrant neuroanatomy and modulated by behavior and synaptic plasticity, result in successful discrimination of objects.

Abstract: The present invention provides a technique for reducing power consumption during execution of computer code including power-down instructions, while satisfying user-specified real-time constraints on a microprocessor. In one example embodiment, this is accomplished by identifying one or more potential locations in the computer code where the power-down instructions can be inserted. The identified potential locations are then analyzed to select the locations to insert the power-down instructions based on user-specified real-time constraints so that the inserted power-down instructions reduces power consumption without significantly increasing the execution time of the computer code.