​Topic

​Welcome to TAI's first 2025 session of AI in Hardware and Robotics. The topic this time will be "AI on the Edge", featuring two innovative hardware startups (neuromorphic chips and LIDAR) visiting Tokyo and insights from local experts on building hardware (and hardware startups) in Japan.

​​Our Community

​​​​Tokyo AI (TAI) is a community composed of close to 2000 people based in Tokyo who are working with, studying, or investing in AI. We are engineers, product managers, entrepreneurs, academics, and investors intending to build a strong “AI coreˮ in Tokyo. Find more in our overview: https://bit.ly/tai_overview

​​Schedule

​18:00 Doors open

​18:30 - 18:35 Introductions

​18:35 - 18:55 Eugene Zetserov (Polyn Technology) - Building Neuromorphic Analog Signal Processing Chips.

​19:00 - 19:20 Yehuda Vidal (Lidwave) - Next Generation 4D Coherent LiDAR Sensor On-Chip.

​19:25 - 19:45 Nick Hafner (Osaka University) - Control of Multi-Rigid Body Systems.

​19:50 - 20:10 Daniel Maggs (Prospection) - Building Hardware Startups: Fundamentals, Challenges, and Success Factors.

​21:00 Event ends

​Speakers

​Polyn Technology is a fabless semiconductor company building Neuromorphic Analog Signal Processing (NASP) chips. Neuromorphic computing is a method of computer engineering where the system elements mimic the human brain and nervous system, in hardware and software. Neuromorphic systems provide both fast computation and low power consumption, handling many operations simultaneously. In Polyn's chips, neurons are physically implemented as an analog circuitry element according to the mathematical simulation of a single neuron. Their NASP technology provides fast and easy conversion of trained Neural Networks into Tiny AI silicon chips with ultra-low power consumption, low latency, and small size, capable of processing raw sensor data of any type.

​Lidwave develops the next generation of LiDARs - a 4D coherent LiDAR sensor on-chip that empowers machines with new vision capabilities, advancing AI capabilities in automation and safety. Their Finite Coherent Ranging (FCR) technology provides detailed spatial and instantaneous velocity information at the pixel level, allowing perception systems to accurately interpret complex dynamic environments, enhancing mobility and transportation, and boosting productivity through improved automation in industries and factories.

Nick Hafner, while now finishing his PhD at Osaka University with Ishiguro-sensei, is also working on starting his company, Refined Robotics, a walking-assistive robot for elderly and rehabilitation patients. He did his MEng in Mechanical Engineering in his home country of the UK at Imperial College London. His talk will be on real-time control. Most robotic systems require a specialized controller to calculate joint torques or forces. What if one system could control any robot? We will discuss Nick's research at Osaka University in multi-rigid-body model predictive control, and how this could fit into larger systems as a whole.

Daniel Maggs, founder and former CEO of Bisu, will share insights into building a hardware startup from scratch. His talk covers the interplay between hardware and software, the role of manufacturing, and the fundamentals required for hardware success. Drawing from his experience in launching a Tokyo-based startup and navigating the complexities of commercialization, he’ll explain why “AI doesn’t mean sh*t to hardware if you don’t have the fundamentals right.”

​Venue Partner

​SivanS Lab is a dynamic startup accelerator with deep roots in marketing and creative business development. Evolving further into the tech space, SivanS Lab is a hub for innovation, empowering entrepreneurs to turn bold ideas into reality, fostering creativity and collaboration.

​​Their mission is to provide a place where diverse minds can thrive. With their blend of creative expertise and a growing focus on tech, SivanS is driving change in Japan and beyond.