New LightTok chip converts light directly into 'tokens' for AI — slashing energy use in drones and other autonomous machines
A new sensor reduces the amount of energy required for visual imaging by processing light at the point of detection.
Researchers in China have developed a new 2D chip called LightTok that can directly convert light into tokens for artificial intelligence (AI) models, potentially reducing energy consumption in drones and other autonomous machines. The device achieves this by collapsing five separate stages of visual perception into a single process, eliminating data movement and energy waste.
LightTok achieved 87.3% accuracy in image recognition tests while being 10 times more energy efficient than traditional methods. If successful, the technology could enable longer flight times for drones scanning disaster zones or remote areas, as less energy would be required for visual processing.
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