A Chip That Draws as Much Power as an LED Enables 3D Mapping on the Fly

What This New Microchip Can Do

According to НВ — Техно: A newly developed microchip allows tiny autonomous robots and lightweight augmented reality glasses to build detailed three-dimensional maps in real time. The underlying technology relies on the GMMap algorithm, which uses ellipsoids instead of voxels to significantly cut data volume and energy use. According to the creators, the chip consumes roughly the same amount of power as a single small LED while plotting a 3D route for a device.

Conventional 3D mapping encodes space using rigid cubic pixels called voxels. In contrast, the GMMap algorithm represents obstacles and free areas with flexible ellipsoidal objects known as Gaussian functions. One elongated ellipsoid can describe a complex curved surface that would normally require thousands of voxels. As a result, the chip processes depth images in a single pass, comparing each pixel only with its nearest neighbors.

The system does not store entire heavy graphics files in memory because they are discarded immediately after generating the Gaussian distributions. When a robot moves and observes the same object from different angles, the chip merges overlapping data into compact ellipsoids. Fast onboard memory sits right next to the chip's computing units, ensuring high efficiency.

Power Consumption and Future Potential

During tests using streaming data from an iPhone camera, the Gleanmer chip consumed just 6 milliwatts of power-only 2.5% of what the best current alternatives require. For plotting a safe movement trajectory, the robot needs 80% less energy than before. The developers also plan to move the computing blocks even closer to the sensors, which could further boost the technology's efficiency.

This microchip will enable miniature drones to inspect complex industrial systems and pipelines, opening new possibilities for automation and improved safety across various sectors. The news was published on June 24 at 21:30.

The introduction of this new microchip technology could fundamentally change approaches to 3D mapping and automation in industry. Source: The Developers

Lower energy consumption and greater efficiency in autonomous systems open up new horizons for using drones in challenging and hazardous environments. This could positively impact worker safety and reduce infrastructure maintenance costs.

The advancements in microchip technology are not limited to 3D mapping; similar innovations are emerging in other fields. For instance, a newly developed chip inspired by human vision significantly enhances object recognition capabilities. This research showcases how bio-inspired designs can lead to breakthroughs in various applications. To learn more about this fascinating development, check out the details in our article about the human-eye-inspired chip.