A biomorphic robotic complex based on a promising component base and technologies developed by scientists from the laboratory of Neuroelectronics and Memristive Nanomaterials (Neuromain) has been created at the Taganrog SFedU campus. RTK is a demonstrator of the developments of the future of the Advanced Engineering School "Cyberplatform Engineering", aimed at limb sensitization.

"Our research group has been engaged in developments in the field of memristive nanomaterials and their use to create a wide range of promising electronic devices for more than 10 years: starting with the design of a modern computer platform and architecture of the future, ending with the neuromorphic structures themselves for various fields of application," said the head of the Neuromena laboratory, PhD, Head of the Department of Radio Electronics and Nanoelectronics of SFedU Vladimir Smirnov.

Neuromorphic structures are microcircuits that perform the functions of hardware implementation of neural networks that "replace" humans. For example, tactile, nociceptive memory, when people feel a surface, can determine by hardness, temperature, and consistency what is in front of them. A person does not think about such everyday things, although in fact these are the functions of a machine learning neural network, which determines everything through neurotransmitters located in humans in the subcutaneous layer.

The SFedU megagrant project has brought together a large number of young scientists and students and is being implemented under the guidance of the world's leading scientists:

– Professor Park Bae Ho of Konkuk University (South Korea), who is one of the founders of this field in the world and has been engaged in memristor research since 2000;

– professors of the NNSU named after Lobachevsky Viktor Kazantsev, an expert in such fields of fundamental and applied science as nonlinear dynamics, computational neuroscience, neurotechnology, and mathematical biology.

"The first iteration of RTK was a robot arm operating in shadow mode. A person uses a glove filled with sensors. Together with the movement of his fingers, it "comes to life", and the robo-arm we have assembled learns.

As for the robot, here we are building a sensor + handler bundle (memristor). Our goal is to miniaturize devices, a balanced and lightweight system that consumes very little energy and leaves a human–like appearance in terms of shapes," said Maxim Kartel, a fourth–year student.

In addition to 10 SFedU students, the Neuromena laboratory employs 8 graduate students, 10 candidates of sciences, and 2 doctors of Sciences.

"Colleagues from other universities often say that we have a self-sufficient laboratory. Indeed, by this year we have received almost all the competencies on this topic and are moving on to the final one – device programming. We need technical software engineers who understand how hardware neural networks and machine learning are implemented," added Vladimir Smirnov.

According to the head of Neuromena, the biomorphic robot project is a student project. For several years, students modeled and made a mock-up on a 3D printer, focusing not on mechanics, but on microelectronic "stuffing".

"It was important to install servos so that the robot could move its arms and make it lighter instead of metal, using modern available materials. We are integrating into the demonstrator hardware-implemented neural networks developed by us with sensory systems that allow for hand sensing based on machine learning. We plan to make other parts of the robot's body in addition to the hands during the year," said Konstantin Kozyumenko, a student of Electronics and Nanoelectronics at the SFedU.

The Neuromena laboratory is tasked with creating domestic solutions for full automation and sensitization of the robot assistant, which, after training, will operate without human intervention, offline. To date, educational programs for training specialists in the field of Electronics and nanoelectronics (bachelor's degree, master's degree) have been launched, allowing them to train personnel on real projects, the achievements of SFedU scientists for the future of electronics.

"Of course, there are barriers in our industry. This is primarily due to the miniaturization of electronic elements. However, we know which directions to move in and, working on the frontier, we predict the development of technologies, being at the forefront of world science.

The laboratory implements 5 Russian Science Foundation projects, a project with the National Center for Physics and Mathematics, and an international project to create an electronic "smart" skin, supported by the Priority 2030 program.

Viktor Borisovich Kazantsev has experience with smart clothes, and leading scientist Chandr Prakash (India) is already launching a laboratory for 3D bioprinting technologies of flexible microelectronics as part of Priority 2030. Graphene oxide, which has memristor properties, will be integrated into suspensions based on a biocompatible material, which will make it possible to print flexible electronic structures on the skin that can serve as collectors of information about human health parameters," added Vladimir Smirnov.

The presented technologies of 3D bioprinting with memristive nanomaterials and educational programs at SFedU are unique for Russia, and allow scientists of the Southern Federal University to compete on a global level.