Aloha project

Software framework for runtime-Adaptive and secure deep Learning On Heterogeneous Architectures

Horizon 2020

This project is funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 programme, grant agreement No. 780788

Consortium

We are a team of 14 partners from 7 countries

Deep Learning (DL) algorithms are an extremely promising instrument in artificial intelligence. To foster their adoption in new applications and markets, a step forward is needed towards the implementation of DL inference on low-power embedded systems, enabling a shift to the edge computing paradigm. The main goal of ALOHA is to facilitate implementation of DL algorithms on heterogeneous low-energy computing platforms providing automation for optimal algorithm selection, resource allocation and deployment.

ALOHA Use cases

Speech recognition in smart industry

This scenario refers to Smart Industry, where Deep Learning is used for speech recognition. The objective of this use case is to develop an embedded speech recognition system that would activate/deactivate PLC-controlled tooling machinery or collaborative robot in an industrial environment, without relying on a cloud backend.

Read more and see the videos...

Surveillance of Critical Infrastructures

This scenario refers to Critical Infrastructures surveillance, where Deep Learning is meant to be used to define an intelligent video-based detection system for security in and around the critical infrastructure. A specific challenge is to use deep learning methods to enable technician after a short training to utilize advanced capabilities of modern surveillance techniques.

Medical decision assistant

This use-case refers to a DL-based smart assistant, which supports emergency room situations, identifying acute intracranial bleeds in non-contrast CT images. The consortium wants to assess the benefits provided by the ALOHA tool flow within the development of an embedded medical decision assistant, considering the requirements posed by the specific application in terms of accuracy and performance.

Architecture-awareness

The features of the architecture that will execute the inference are taken into account during the whole development process, starting from the early stages such as pre-training hyperparameter optimization and algorithm configuration.

Productivity

The tool flow implements support for agile development methodologies, to be easily adopted by SMEs and midcaps.

Adaptivity

The development process considers that the system should adapt to different operating modes at runtime.

Extensibility

The development process is conceived to support novel processing platforms to be exploitable beyond the end of the project.

Security

The development process automates the introduction of algorithm features and programming techniques improving the resilience of the system to attacks.

Parsimonious inference

In DL, good precision levels can be also obtained using algorithms with reduced complexity. All the optimization utilities in the ALOHA tool flow will consider the effects of algorithm simplification on precision, execution time, energy and power.

Latest News & Events

ALOHA mentioned in "100 Italian Robotics & Automation Stories"

Published: Tuesday, 18 February 2020 09:34

The ALOHA project has been proudly mentioned among the "100 Italian Robotics and Automation stories" in a research report carried out by Fondazione Symbola and Enel Group. The document is available in English and Italian.

The 100 Innovation Stories Report, promoted in cooperation with UCIMU Foundation, is now in its fourth edition, after having studied innovation in the renewable energy, circular economy and e-mobility supply chains, delves into robotics and automation, another sector of national excellence, deeply rooted in our country.

Read more and download the report...

Voice control of e.Do robotic arm using ALOHA - Video demonstrator

Published: Monday, 27 January 2020 09:34

In this video, speech recognition is used to control a robotic arm (e.Do by Comau) keeping hands free. Two modalities are available: predefined poses or spatial mode using x, y and z coordinates. The deep neural network model is speaker independent and classifies audio into ten keywords.

Video by Santer Reply.

Deep Learning in Edge Computing Platforms. ALOHA tutorial at HIPEAC 2020. Registration available

Published: Friday, 17 January 2020 09:34

The HiPEAC conference (High Performance and Embedded Architecture and Compilation) is a prestigious annual European forum for experts in computer architecture, programming models, compilers and operating systems for embedded and general-purpose systems. The HiPEAC 2020 conference will take place in Bologna, Italy (Polo congressuale).

The ALOHA consortium will held a tutorial during HiPEAC 2020, on January 21th, SALA AVORIO (from 2:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.). The tutorial is meant to offer an overview how to use the ALOHA framework and its different functionalities.

Project Coordinator
Giuseppe Desoli - STMicroelectronics
giuseppe(dot)desoli(at)st(dot)com

Scientific Coordinator
Paolo Meloni - University of Cagliari, EOLAB
paolo(dot)meloni(at)diee(dot)unica(dot)it

Dissemination Manager
Francesca Palumbo - University of Sassari, IDEA Lab
fpalumbo(at)uniss(dot)it

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