Engineers at RMIT University have invented a small ‘neuromorphic’ device that detects hand movement, stores memories and processes information like a human brain, without the need for an external computer.

Team leader Professor Sumeet Walia said the innovation marked a step towards enabling instant visual processing in autonomous vehicles, advanced robotics and other next-generation applications for improved human interaction.

“Neuromorphic vision systems are designed to use similar analogue processing to our brains, which can greatly reduce the amount of energy needed to perform complex visual tasks compared with digital technologies used today,” said Walia, Director of the RMIT Centre for Opto-electronic Materials and Sensors (COMAS).

The work brings together neuromorphic materials and advanced signal processing led by Professor Akram Al-Hourani, who is Deputy Director of COMAS.

The device contains a metal compound known as molybdenum disulfide, or MoS2.

In their latest study, the team showed how atomic-scale defects in this compound can be harnessed to capture light and process it as electrical signals, like how neurons work in our brain.

“This proof-of-concept device mimics the human eye’s ability to capture light and the brain’s ability to process that visual information, enabling it to sense a change in the environment instantly and make memories without the need for using huge amounts of data and energy,” Walia said.

“Current digital systems, by contrast, are very power hungry and unable to keep up as data volume and complexity increases, which limits their ability to make ‘true’ real-time decisions.”

The research is published in&nbsp;Advanced Materials Technologies. Walia and Al-Hourani are corresponding authors and Mr Thiha Aung, a PhD scholar at RMIT, is first author.

RMIT has filed a provisional patent for the work.

During experiments, the device detected changes in a waving hand’s movement, without the need to capture the events frame by frame – this is known as edge detection, which requires significantly less data processing and power. &nbsp;

Once the changes were detected, the device stored these events as memories like a brain.

The researchers conducted experiments in the spectrum visible to the human eye, which built upon the team’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rmit.edu.au/news/all-news/2023/jun/neuromorphic-vision" target="_blank">previous neuromorphic research</a>&nbsp;in the ultraviolet domain.

“We demonstrated that atomically thin molybdenum disulfide can accurately replicate the leaky integrate-and-fire (LIF) neuron behaviour, a fundamental building block of spiking neural networks,” Thiha said.

The past UV work only involved the detection, memory making and processing of still images. In both the visible-spectrum and UV devices, memories could be reset so that devices were ready to perform the next task.

The team’s innovation could one day improve response times of automated vehicles and advanced robotic systems to visual information, which could be crucial particularly in dangerous and unpredictable environments.

“Neuromorphic vision in these applications, which is still many years away, could detect changes in a scene almost instantly, without the need to process lots of data, enabling a much faster response that could save lives,” Walia said.

“For robots working closely with humans in manufacturing or as a personal assistant, neuromorphic technology could enable more natural interactions by recognising and reacting to human behaviour with minimal delay,” Al-Hourani said.

The team is now scaling up the proof-of-concept single-pixel device to a larger pixel array of MoS2-based devices.

The Australian Research Council has recently funded the team with a Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities (LIEF) grant to enable this scaling up of their neuromorphic devices.

“While our system mimics certain aspects of the brain’s neural processing, particularly in vision, it's still a simplified model,” Walia said.

“We will optimise the devices to perform specific real-world applications with more complex vision tasks, and further reduce power consumption.”

The team plans to develop hybrid systems that integrate their analogue technology with conventional digital electronics.

“We see our work as complementary to traditional computing, rather than a replacement,” Walia said.

“Conventional systems excel at many tasks, while our neuromorphic technology offers advantages for visual processing where energy efficiency and real-time operation are critical.”

The team is also investigating materials other than MoS2 that might extend capabilities into infrared, which could enable real-time tracking of global emissions and intelligent sensing of contaminants such as toxic gases, pathogens and chemicals.

‘<a href="http://doi.org/10.1002/admt.202401677" target="_blank">Photoactive monolayer MoS2 for spiking neural networks enabled machine vision applications</a>’ is published in&nbsp;Advanced Materials Technologies&nbsp;(DOI: 10.1002/admt.202401677).

Engineers at RMIT University have invented a small ‘neuromorphic’ device that detects hand movement, stores memories and processes information like a human brain, without the need for an external computer.Team leader Professor Sumeet Walia said the innovation marked a step towards enabling instant visual processing in autonomous vehicles, advanced robotics and other next-generation applications for improved human interaction.“Neuromorphic vision systems are designed to use similar analogue processing to our brains, which can greatly reduce the amount of energy needed to perform complex visual tasks compared with digital technologies used today,” said Walia, Director of the RMIT Centre for Opto-electronic Materials and Sensors (COMAS).The work brings together neuromorphic materials and advanced signal processing led by Professor Akram Al-Hourani, who is Deputy Director of COMAS.The device contains a metal compound known as molybdenum disulfide, or MoS2.In their latest study, the team showed how atomic-scale defects in this compound can be harnessed to capture light and process it as electrical signals, like how neurons work in our brain.“This proof-of-concept device mimics the human eye’s ability to capture light and the brain’s ability to process that visual information, enabling it to sense a change in the environment instantly and make memories without the need for using huge amounts of data and energy,” Walia said.“Current digital systems, by contrast, are very power hungry and unable to keep up as data volume and complexity increases, which limits their ability to make ‘true’ real-time decisions.”The research is published in&nbsp;Advanced Materials Technologies. Walia and Al-Hourani are corresponding authors and Mr Thiha Aung, a PhD scholar at RMIT, is first author.RMIT has filed a provisional patent for the work.Seeing the future in the wave of a handDuring experiments, the device detected changes in a waving hand’s movement, without the need to capture the events frame by frame – this is known as edge detection, which requires significantly less data processing and power. &nbsp;Once the changes were detected, the device stored these events as memories like a brain.The researchers conducted experiments in the spectrum visible to the human eye, which built upon the team’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rmit.edu.au/news/all-news/2023/jun/neuromorphic-vision" target="_blank">previous neuromorphic research</a>&nbsp;in the ultraviolet domain.“We demonstrated that atomically thin molybdenum disulfide can accurately replicate the leaky integrate-and-fire (LIF) neuron behaviour, a fundamental building block of spiking neural networks,” Thiha said.The past UV work only involved the detection, memory making and processing of still images. In both the visible-spectrum and UV devices, memories could be reset so that devices were ready to perform the next task.Potential applicationsThe team’s innovation could one day improve response times of automated vehicles and advanced robotic systems to visual information, which could be crucial particularly in dangerous and unpredictable environments.“Neuromorphic vision in these applications, which is still many years away, could detect changes in a scene almost instantly, without the need to process lots of data, enabling a much faster response that could save lives,” Walia said.“For robots working closely with humans in manufacturing or as a personal assistant, neuromorphic technology could enable more natural interactions by recognising and reacting to human behaviour with minimal delay,” Al-Hourani said.Next stepsThe team is now scaling up the proof-of-concept single-pixel device to a larger pixel array of MoS2-based devices.The Australian Research Council has recently funded the team with a Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities (LIEF) grant to enable this scaling up of their neuromorphic devices.“While our system mimics certain aspects of the brain’s neural processing, particularly in vision, it's still a simplified model,” Walia said.“We will optimise the devices to perform specific real-world applications with more complex vision tasks, and further reduce power consumption.”The team plans to develop hybrid systems that integrate their analogue technology with conventional digital electronics.“We see our work as complementary to traditional computing, rather than a replacement,” Walia said.“Conventional systems excel at many tasks, while our neuromorphic technology offers advantages for visual processing where energy efficiency and real-time operation are critical.”The team is also investigating materials other than MoS2 that might extend capabilities into infrared, which could enable real-time tracking of global emissions and intelligent sensing of contaminants such as toxic gases, pathogens and chemicals.‘<a href="http://doi.org/10.1002/admt.202401677" target="_blank">Photoactive monolayer MoS2 for spiking neural networks enabled machine vision applications</a>’ is published in&nbsp;Advanced Materials Technologies&nbsp;(DOI: 10.1002/admt.202401677).

STEM (Science, Tech, Engineering, Math)

Tiny device promises new tech with a human touch

An ingestible gas-sensing capsule that provides real-time insights into gut health has moved closer to market with RMIT University transferring IP ownership to medical device company Atmo Biosciences.&nbsp;

In an announcement today, RMIT transferred all patents and associated intellectual property related to the Atmo Gas Capsule to Atmo in exchange for an equity stake in the company.&nbsp;

The innovative technology measures gaseous biomarkers directly at the source of production throughout the gut.

These biomarkers are used to measure gut transit time to aid diagnosis of common motility disorders such as&nbsp;gastroparesis and slow transit constipation. Functional gut disorders like these impact 2 in 5 people.&nbsp;

Originally developed through groundbreaking research at RMIT, the ingestible gas-sensing capsule was licensed by Atmo in 2018.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Since then, the company has advanced the technology from concept to clinical reality – developing, manufacturing and trialling the device to create a market-ready solution for diagnosing gastrointestinal disorders.&nbsp;

Atmo Biosciences CEO Mal Hebblewhite said it was a significant milestone for both partners.&nbsp;

"Having RMIT as a strategic shareholder reinforces our shared commitment to bringing this innovative technology to market,” he said.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“Full ownership of our core IP further strengthens Atmo’s position as we advance toward regulatory clearance and commercialisation, ensuring long-term value for our company and the patients we aim to serve."&nbsp;

The assignment marks a significant step in Atmo’s commercialisation journey as it&nbsp;seeks regulatory&nbsp;clearance with&nbsp;the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).&nbsp;&nbsp;

This follows last year's successful completion of a pivotal clinical study demonstrating the safety and efficacy of the device on more than 200 subjects from 12 trial sites in the US and Australia&nbsp;

Earlier, the Atmo gas-sensing capsule was also used in a range of trials, such as one by Florida State University researchers to assess the impact of a restricted eating diet on gut gases and time taken for food to pass through the system.&nbsp;

Atmo Biosciences’ Head of Clinical Affairs Kyle Berean said that the trial demonstrated the potential applicability of the Atmo Gas Capsule beyond diagnostic applications.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“The Atmo Gas Capsule provides insights into gastrointestinal function including key markers such as regional gut hydrogen concentration and gastrointestinal transit time.”&nbsp;

“This information is useful not only to clinicians to aid diagnosis of gastrointestinal disorders, such as dysmotility, but can also be used by researchers to determine the impact and efficacy of dietary and pharmacological interventions,” said Berean, who helped invent the device at RMIT and joined Atmo to bring it to market.&nbsp;

Distinguished Professor Calum Drummond AO, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research and Innovation and Vice-President at RMIT University, said today’s&nbsp;agreement exemplified the university’s mission to translate academic research for social benefit.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“The equity component of this agreement strengthens our long-term collaboration, aligning our interests as Atmo continues to expand its platform technology."&nbsp;

“We are particularly proud that several of our students and early career researchers played instrumental roles in developing this technology at RMIT and have continued to contribute as co-founders at Atmo Biosciences,”&nbsp;Drummond&nbsp;said.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Hebblewhite said Atmo’s vision is to improve the quality of life for the many sufferers of common and debilitating gastrointestinal disorders and diseases, providing clinicians and researchers with tools that deliver actionable insights regarding gastrointestinal dysfunction.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“Much about the gut remains a mystery, and this device allows us to shine a light for better understanding of what is happening in this critical part of our body for timely diagnosis, monitoring, and insight” he said.&nbsp;

The Atmo Gas Capsule System is pending FDA 510(k) clearance and is not available for sale. The Atmo Gas Capsule System is an investigational device exclusively for use in clinical research.&nbsp;

An ingestible gas-sensing capsule that provides real-time insights into gut health has moved closer to market with RMIT University transferring IP ownership to medical device company Atmo Biosciences.&nbsp;In an announcement today, RMIT transferred all patents and associated intellectual property related to the Atmo Gas Capsule to Atmo in exchange for an equity stake in the company.&nbsp;The innovative technology measures gaseous biomarkers directly at the source of production throughout the gut.These biomarkers are used to measure gut transit time to aid diagnosis of common motility disorders such as&nbsp;gastroparesis and slow transit constipation. Functional gut disorders like these impact 2 in 5 people.&nbsp;Originally developed through groundbreaking research at RMIT, the ingestible gas-sensing capsule was licensed by Atmo in 2018.&nbsp;&nbsp;Since then, the company has advanced the technology from concept to clinical reality – developing, manufacturing and trialling the device to create a market-ready solution for diagnosing gastrointestinal disorders.&nbsp;Atmo Biosciences CEO Mal Hebblewhite said it was a significant milestone for both partners.&nbsp;"Having RMIT as a strategic shareholder reinforces our shared commitment to bringing this innovative technology to market,” he said.&nbsp;&nbsp;“Full ownership of our core IP further strengthens Atmo’s position as we advance toward regulatory clearance and commercialisation, ensuring long-term value for our company and the patients we aim to serve."&nbsp;The assignment marks a significant step in Atmo’s commercialisation journey as it&nbsp;seeks regulatory&nbsp;clearance with&nbsp;the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).&nbsp;&nbsp;This follows last year's successful completion of a pivotal clinical study demonstrating the safety and efficacy of the device on more than 200 subjects from 12 trial sites in the US and Australia&nbsp;Earlier, the Atmo gas-sensing capsule was also used in a range of trials, such as one by Florida State University researchers to assess the impact of a restricted eating diet on gut gases and time taken for food to pass through the system.&nbsp;Atmo Biosciences’ Head of Clinical Affairs Kyle Berean said that the trial demonstrated the potential applicability of the Atmo Gas Capsule beyond diagnostic applications.&nbsp;&nbsp;“The Atmo Gas Capsule provides insights into gastrointestinal function including key markers such as regional gut hydrogen concentration and gastrointestinal transit time.”&nbsp;“This information is useful not only to clinicians to aid diagnosis of gastrointestinal disorders, such as dysmotility, but can also be used by researchers to determine the impact and efficacy of dietary and pharmacological interventions,” said Berean, who helped invent the device at RMIT and joined Atmo to bring it to market.&nbsp;Collaboration driving innovation&nbsp;Distinguished Professor Calum Drummond AO, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research and Innovation and Vice-President at RMIT University, said today’s&nbsp;agreement exemplified the university’s mission to translate academic research for social benefit.&nbsp;&nbsp;“The equity component of this agreement strengthens our long-term collaboration, aligning our interests as Atmo continues to expand its platform technology."&nbsp;“We are particularly proud that several of our students and early career researchers played instrumental roles in developing this technology at RMIT and have continued to contribute as co-founders at Atmo Biosciences,”&nbsp;Drummond&nbsp;said.&nbsp;&nbsp;Hebblewhite said Atmo’s vision is to improve the quality of life for the many sufferers of common and debilitating gastrointestinal disorders and diseases, providing clinicians and researchers with tools that deliver actionable insights regarding gastrointestinal dysfunction.&nbsp;&nbsp;“Much about the gut remains a mystery, and this device allows us to shine a light for better understanding of what is happening in this critical part of our body for timely diagnosis, monitoring, and insight” he said.&nbsp;The Atmo Gas Capsule System is pending FDA 510(k) clearance and is not available for sale. The Atmo Gas Capsule System is an investigational device exclusively for use in clinical research.&nbsp;

Diet / Health food / Supplement

Medical / Hospital

Gas-sensing capsule takes another big step from lab to commercialisation

A digital comic series co-designed by RMIT students, educators and violence prevention experts will challenge online disinformation and harmful narratives that particularly target young men.

The&nbsp;Adventures of Soy Boy and Friends&nbsp;follows a team of fictional characters as they navigate the challenges of university life, one algorithm and creditable source at a time.

The designs were created by&nbsp;RMIT graduate Millie&nbsp;Ovenden, from a series of engagements with male students and experts.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rmit.edu.au/about/our-values/respect-rmit/gender-equity-and-justice/soy-boy" target="_blank">first edition of the comic</a>, coinciding with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/student-life/events/annual/respect-week" target="_blank">Respect at Uni Week</a>, explores real students’ lived experience of the pressures that some young men feel when fake news becomes truth amongst their peers and in their classrooms.

<a href="https://www.rmit.edu.au/news/all-news/2025/mar/soy-boy" target="_blank">Find out more about the project here.</a>

Quote attributable to RMIT Prevention and Respect manager Shelley Hewson-Munro

"This project highlights how&nbsp;students, educators and researchers are still working together to challenge how we care for one another, and how campuses can be safe and respectful places where we all can thrive."

A digital comic series co-designed by RMIT students, educators and violence prevention experts will challenge online disinformation and harmful narratives that particularly target young men.The&nbsp;Adventures of Soy Boy and Friends&nbsp;follows a team of fictional characters as they navigate the challenges of university life, one algorithm and creditable source at a time.The designs were created by&nbsp;RMIT graduate Millie&nbsp;Ovenden, from a series of engagements with male students and experts.The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rmit.edu.au/about/our-values/respect-rmit/gender-equity-and-justice/soy-boy" target="_blank">first edition of the comic</a>, coinciding with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/student-life/events/annual/respect-week" target="_blank">Respect at Uni Week</a>, explores real students’ lived experience of the pressures that some young men feel when fake news becomes truth amongst their peers and in their classrooms.<a href="https://www.rmit.edu.au/news/all-news/2025/mar/soy-boy" target="_blank">Find out more about the project here.</a>Quote attributable to RMIT Prevention and Respect manager Shelley Hewson-Munro"This project highlights how&nbsp;students, educators and researchers are still working together to challenge how we care for one another, and how campuses can be safe and respectful places where we all can thrive."

Magazines / Books / Publications

Cram school / Preparatory school / Online education

Art Culture

Challenging online disinformation and harmful narratives

RMIT sustainable fashion experts have collaborated with brands to create guidelines aimed at eliminating wasteful designs and promoting durable fashion that supports reuse and recycling.

The global fashion industry is responsible for about 10% of all greenhouse gas emissions.

The new guide,&nbsp;<a href="https://refashioning.org/download/" target="_blank">Refashioning: accelerating circular product design at scale,</a>&nbsp;outlines steps for makers to transition from linear to circular design, focusing on maximising the lifespan of products and materials.

Lead author and Dean of RMIT’s School of Fashion and Textiles, Professor Alice Payne, said the guide challenged traditional design thinking with practical steps to enable change.

“This guide provides a systematic and methodological approach to implementing circular clothing design in a way that all organisations can implement, regardless of their size,” she said.

“Based on extensive research with the industry, we’ve created practical steps businesses can take to improve the circularity of their outputs.

“Although other circular design guides are available,&nbsp;Refashioning&nbsp;is unique in providing a systematic methodology that enables designers to both slow the flow and close the loop.”

The dominant production and consumption method used by most brands today creates clothing for a linear economy – a system of take, make and waste.

To switch to a circular method that allows materials to be recycled, critical aspects such as material choices, product purpose and use, durability, and end-of-life options need to be considered early in the design process.

Funded by Sustainability Victoria, the guide’s production was a collaboration between RMIT, Country Road Group brands and two independent partners, circular design expert Courtney Holm and sustainability expert Julie Boulton.

Sustainability Victoria’s CEO, Matt Genever, said the research connected industry, government, and academia to address textile waste.

“It’s an example of how effective cross-sector collaboration can generate impactful results in the transition to a circular economy,” he said.

“By fostering partnerships across sectors, Sustainability Victoria enables meaningful change that moves beyond theory and into real, actionable solutions.”

Applied expertise was central to the design of the guidelines, as they were tested by users on actual products.

For over a year, the team worked with eight product and design teams across four brands within the Country Road Group – Country Road, Trenery, Witchery and Politix – to test and refine the guides in a commercial context.

Country Road Group’s Head of Sustainability, Erika Martin, said working on the guide’s creation has started the Group on a journey towards having a common understanding and approach to circular design across its brands.

“This project delivered a clear vision for circular design, and leveraged the expertise in the industry, academia and our own business,” she said.

“The opportunity to help create guidelines based on real life feedback and challenges and not just academic theory was a key driver for our involvement, alongside our commitment to building a better future.”

<a href="https://refashioning.org/download/" target="_blank">Refashioning: accelerating circular product design at scale</a>, with RMIT co-authors Alice Payne, Yassie Samie, Jenny Underwood, Saniyat Islam, Rebecca Van Amber and Regine Abos,is published on&nbsp;<a href="https://refashioning.org/" target="_blank">refashioning.org</a>.

RMIT sustainable fashion experts have collaborated with brands to create guidelines aimed at eliminating wasteful designs and promoting durable fashion that supports reuse and recycling.The global fashion industry is responsible for about 10% of all greenhouse gas emissions.The new guide,&nbsp;<a href="https://refashioning.org/download/" target="_blank">Refashioning: accelerating circular product design at scale,</a>&nbsp;outlines steps for makers to transition from linear to circular design, focusing on maximising the lifespan of products and materials.Lead author and Dean of RMIT’s School of Fashion and Textiles, Professor Alice Payne, said the guide challenged traditional design thinking with practical steps to enable change.“This guide provides a systematic and methodological approach to implementing circular clothing design in a way that all organisations can implement, regardless of their size,” she said.“Based on extensive research with the industry, we’ve created practical steps businesses can take to improve the circularity of their outputs.“Although other circular design guides are available,&nbsp;Refashioning&nbsp;is unique in providing a systematic methodology that enables designers to both slow the flow and close the loop.”The dominant production and consumption method used by most brands today creates clothing for a linear economy – a system of take, make and waste.To switch to a circular method that allows materials to be recycled, critical aspects such as material choices, product purpose and use, durability, and end-of-life options need to be considered early in the design process.Funded by Sustainability Victoria, the guide’s production was a collaboration between RMIT, Country Road Group brands and two independent partners, circular design expert Courtney Holm and sustainability expert Julie Boulton.Sustainability Victoria’s CEO, Matt Genever, said the research connected industry, government, and academia to address textile waste.“It’s an example of how effective cross-sector collaboration can generate impactful results in the transition to a circular economy,” he said.“By fostering partnerships across sectors, Sustainability Victoria enables meaningful change that moves beyond theory and into real, actionable solutions.”Applied expertise was central to the design of the guidelines, as they were tested by users on actual products.For over a year, the team worked with eight product and design teams across four brands within the Country Road Group – Country Road, Trenery, Witchery and Politix – to test and refine the guides in a commercial context.Country Road Group’s Head of Sustainability, Erika Martin, said working on the guide’s creation has started the Group on a journey towards having a common understanding and approach to circular design across its brands.“This project delivered a clear vision for circular design, and leveraged the expertise in the industry, academia and our own business,” she said.“The opportunity to help create guidelines based on real life feedback and challenges and not just academic theory was a key driver for our involvement, alongside our commitment to building a better future.”<a href="https://refashioning.org/download/" target="_blank">Refashioning: accelerating circular product design at scale</a>, with RMIT co-authors Alice Payne, Yassie Samie, Jenny Underwood, Saniyat Islam, Rebecca Van Amber and Regine Abos,is published on&nbsp;<a href="https://refashioning.org/" target="_blank">refashioning.org</a>.