Error Resilient Neuromorphic Systems Using Embedded Predictive Neuron Checks

Abstract

The reliability of emerging neuromorphic compute fabrics is of great concern due to their widespread use in critical data-intensive applications. Ensuring such reliability is difficult due to the intensity of underlying computations (billions of parameters), errors induced by low power operation and the complex relationship between errors in computations and their effect on network performance accuracy. We study the problem of designing error-resilient neuromorphic systems where errors can stem from: (a) soft errors in computation of matrix-vector multiplications and neuron activations, (b) malicious trojan and adversarial security attacks and (c) effects of manufacturing process variations on analog crossbar arrays that can affect DNN accuracy. The core principle of error detection relies on embedded predictive neuron checks using invariants derived from the statis-tics of nominal neuron activation patterns of hidden layers of a neural network. Algorithmic encodings of hidden neuron function are also used to derive invariants for checking. A key contribution is designing checks that are robust to the inherent nonlinearity of neuron computations with minimal impact on error detection coverage. Once errors are detected, they are corrected using probabilistic methods due to the difficulties involved in exact error diagnosis in such complex systems. The technique is scalable across soft errors as well as a range of security attacks. The effects of manufacturing process variations are handled through the use of compact tests from which DNN performance can be assessed using learning techniques. Experimental results on a variety of neuromorphic test systems: DNNs, spiking networks and hyperdimensional computing are presented.