Darwin Board uses evolutionary algorithm to adapt RC circuits in real time
Key Takeaway
An ESP32-based open hardware board runs an evolutionary algorithm to dynamically reconfigure RC filter circuits for changing signal environments.
Summary
The Darwin Board, created by Saikarthik Ramakrishnan, treats each possible RC circuit configuration as a genome within a 2040-combination search space. An onboard ESP32 evaluates performance and evolves the circuit to filter unwanted signals. The project is documented on GitHub with build files and code available.
How the Darwin Board works
- ESP32 handles both the evolutionary algorithm and circuit control
- 2040 possible genome combinations define the RC circuit search space
- Each genome represents a distinct RC circuit configuration
- Algorithm mutates and selects circuits based on real-time filtering performance
- Target use case: adaptive filtering for environments where signal conditions change
Why it matters
The project demonstrates how evolutionary computation can be applied to analog hardware problems with minimal component cost, potentially inspiring similar approaches in sensor calibration and adaptive audio processing.
Original reference: hackaday.com →