NeuroRing: Scaling Spiking Neural Networks via Multi-FPGA Bidirectional Ring Topologies and Stream-Dataflow Architectures
2027 (English) In: Euro-Par 2026: Parallel Processing - 32nd European Conference on Parallel and Distributed Processing, Proceedings, Springer Nature , 2027, Vol. 16781 LNCS, p. 329-343Conference paper, Published paper (Refereed)
Abstract [en]
Spiking neural networks (SNNs) are a promising paradigm for energy-efficient event-driven computation, but large-scale SNN execution remains challenging because sparse spike communication and synchronization can dominate runtime. Existing solutions across CPU, GPU, ASIC, and FPGA platforms offer different trade-offs between programmability, efficiency, and scalability. To address this gap, we present NeuroRing, a modular and scalable SNN accelerator based on a stream-dataflow architecture and a bidirectional ring topology, implemented in High-Level Synthesis (HLS) on FPGAs. NeuroRing supports modular single- and multi-FPGA deployment and is compatible with existing SNN workflows through integration with the NEST simulator. We evaluate NeuroRing on the cortical microcircuit benchmark and a Sudoku constraint-satisfaction workload. Results show that NeuroRing preserves the key activity statistics of the NEST reference model, achieves faster-than-real-time execution of the full-scale cortical microcircuit with a real-time factor (RTF) of 0.83, exhibits meaningful strong and weak scaling, and provides competitive energy efficiency on two programmable FPGAs. These results position NeuroRing as a flexible and scalable platform for both neuroscience simulation and broader event-driven applications.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages Springer Nature , 2027. Vol. 16781 LNCS, p. 329-343
Keywords [en]
Accelerator, Dataflow, FPGA, Ring Topology, SNN, Stream
National Category
Subatomic Physics Computer Sciences Embedded Systems
Identifiers URN: urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-388190 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-032-35248-4_23 Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-105048945351 OAI: oai:DiVA.org:kth-388190 DiVA, id: diva2:2100690
Conference 32nd European Conference on Parallel and Distributed Processing, Euro-Par 2026, Pisa, Italy, August 24-28, 2026
Note Part of ISBN 9783032352477
QC 20260911
2026-09-112026-09-112026-09-11 Bibliographically approved