# ARM Inventor Steve Furber on SpiNNaker 1, 2, and Beyond

- Show: [EE Times Current](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current)
- Published: 2023-11-17
- Length: 45m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2023-11-17-arm-inventor-steve-furber-on-spinnaker-1-2-and-beyond
- Listen: https://podcast.show/aspencore/episode/122384247/

## Summary

Professor Steve Furber, co-designer of the ARM architecture and BBC Micro, discusses the SpiNNaker neuromorphic computing platform, explaining its massively parallel, multicast routing design intended to model biological neural networks in real time. He details the transition from SpiNNaker 1, which used software-defined neuron models on ARM cores, to SpiNNaker 2, which adds hardware accelerators for exponentials, random numbers, and matrix operations to support hybrid spiking and artificial neural networks. Furber notes that while SpiNNaker 1 served as a critical simulator for the Human Brain Project, SpiNNaker 2 aims to bridge the gap toward practical, low-power embedded robotics applications.

## Chapters

- [0:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2023-11-17-arm-inventor-steve-furber-on-spinnaker-1-2-and-beyond#t=3) Introduction: Steve Furber and the SpiNNaker Project
- [2:54](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2023-11-17-arm-inventor-steve-furber-on-spinnaker-1-2-and-beyond#t=174) From ARM to Neuromorphics: Associative Memories and Brain Modeling
- [5:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2023-11-17-arm-inventor-steve-furber-on-spinnaker-1-2-and-beyond#t=349) SpiNNaker 1 Design: Multicast Routing and Asynchronous Interconnect
- [10:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2023-11-17-arm-inventor-steve-furber-on-spinnaker-1-2-and-beyond#t=613) Key Experiments: Cortical Microcircuit Models and Biological Real Time
- [16:47](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2023-11-17-arm-inventor-steve-furber-on-spinnaker-1-2-and-beyond#t=1007) SpiNNaker 2 Improvements: Hardware Accelerators for Exponentials and Matrix Math
- [19:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2023-11-17-arm-inventor-steve-furber-on-spinnaker-1-2-and-beyond#t=1158) SpiNNaker 2 Status: Prototype Silicon and Spin Cloud Systems Commercialization
- [22:57](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2023-11-17-arm-inventor-steve-furber-on-spinnaker-1-2-and-beyond#t=1377) Defining Neuromorphic Computing: Simulation vs. Emulation
- [24:51](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2023-11-17-arm-inventor-steve-furber-on-spinnaker-1-2-and-beyond#t=1491) Guest Discussion: Ralph Etienne-Cummings on SpiNNaker Applications and Robot Embodiment

## Topics

- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Chips, FPGAs & semiconductors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/chips-and-fpgas)

## Most relevant to

established companies

## Mentioned

- SpiNNaker (product)
- ARM (chip)
- BBC Micro (product)
- University of Manchester (company)
- Italian Institute of Technology (company)
- Johns Hopkins University (company)
- Spin Cloud Systems (company)
- TU Dresden (company)
- BrainScales (product)
- Loihi (product)
- TrueNorth (product)
- Solistics (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Armstrong, Camenzind & Museums - Outstanding Oneirophoros Obituaries](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2012-08-27-armstrong-camenzind-museums-outstanding-oneirophoros-obituaries) (The Amp Hour)
- [AI at the Edge: Justin Schneck on the Future of Embedded Devices](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2025-05-29-ai-at-the-edge-justin-schneck-on-the-future-of-embedded-devices) (Over the Air)
- [An Interview with Matt Richardson - Raspberry Risorgimento Regent](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2015-02-05-an-interview-with-matt-richardson-raspberry-risorgimento-regent) (The Amp Hour)
- [87: Make My Own Steel Foundry](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-02-04-87-make-my-own-steel-foundry) (Embedded.fm)
- [237: Break All the Laws of Physics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2018-03-09-237-break-all-the-laws-of-physics) (Embedded.fm)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2023-11-17-arm-inventor-steve-furber-on-spinnaker-1-2-and-beyond. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to EE Times Current.