Parallax Advanced Research and the Ohio Aerospace Institute (OAI) are pioneering research that bridges biologically-inspired and unconventional computing, advanced sensing, and defense innovation. Dr. Steven D. Harbour, director of AI Hardware Research at Parallax/OAI and an adjunct professor at the University of Dayton, and his computing research team are advancing a new approach to electronic warfare (EW) perception. By fusing spiking neural networks, optical systems, and edge-AI hardware, their work promises to dramatically redefine RF situational awareness—moving beyond traditional signal processing to enable real-time, ultra-low-power cognition in highly contested electromagnetic environments. This research marks a bold step toward transforming how future battlefield systems detect, classify, and respond to RF threats at the tactical edge.
Caption: Dr. Steve Harbour, director of AI Hardware Research, Parallax Advanced Research and the Ohio Aerospace Institute
A Paradigm Shift in RF Awareness
At the core of this pioneering effort is Parallax’s novel use of direct (RF)1 to light conversion for signal classification. This achieved by an integrated photonic biologically-inspired RF pipeline that requires no digital pre-processing.
This innovation was born from a recognition that existing RF processing pipelines—reliant on frame-based digitization and compute-heavy Digital Signal Processing (DSP)2—collapse under low-probability-of-intercept (LPI) and jamming-heavy scenarios. Drawing inspiration from biological neural systems and event-driven vision, the team created a different path: fuse analog RF signals with optical biologically-inspired processing for resilient, edge-ready perception.
In this project, RF signals are not digitized or processed with conventional DSP. Instead, they are converted into optical spikes and processed with Spiking Neural Networks (SNNs)—a much more efficient, biologically inspired alternative suitable for edge deployment with low latency and power needs.
Operational and Strategic Impact
Unlike any existing architecture, it projects RF signals into the optical domain to generate event-based spikes. This allows direct classification using biologically-inspired SNNs, enabling ultra-low SWaP (Size, Weight, and Power) operation ideal for deployment on autonomous platforms.
Replacing frame-based RF capture with optical spike classification is more than just an efficiency upgrade—it’s a cognitive leap. For defense platforms, this means real-time detection, classification, and adaptive response to RF threats at the tactical edge, with no reliance on centralized compute. Commercially, the technology holds potential for secure IoT, spectrum monitoring, and next-generation cognitive radios.
“For the team, the most rewarding aspect has been seeing our idea recognized as a breakthrough,” said Dr. Harbour. “It’s a powerful reminder that the future of national security depends not just on better tools, but on entirely new ways of thinking.”
The team’s message to aspiring researchers: “Don’t just follow trends—combine disparate domains like physics and AI in unexpected ways. Align with national security missions to transform, not just improve.”
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Key Terms:
1 "RF" refers to the range of electromagnetic frequencies used for wireless communication, radar, and sensing.
2 "DSP" refers to the Digital Signal Processing techniques used to analyze and manipulate RF signals once they’ve been captured. In a traditional RF system, the analog signal is sampled and digitized at high rates using an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) and processed using DSP algorithms to extract meaningful features (e.g., frequency, modulation type, signal classification). These DSP chains are computationally intensive and typically require substantial power and processing infrastructure, which is problematic for low-SWaP (Size, Weight, and Power) applications like drones or distributed sensors.
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About Parallax Advanced Research & The Ohio Aerospace Institute
Parallax is a research institute that tackles global challenges through strategic partnerships with government, industry, and academia. It accelerates innovation, addresses critical global issues, and develops groundbreaking ideas with its partners. With offices in Ohio and Virginia, Parallax aims to deliver new solutions and speed them to market. In 2023, Parallax and OAI formed a collaborative affiliation to drive innovation and technological advancements in Ohio and for the nation. OAI plays a pivotal role in advancing the aerospace industry in Ohio and the nation by fostering collaborations between universities, aerospace industries, and government organizations, and managing aerospace research, education, and workforce development projects.