[ksd482]

PNNs resemble neural networks, however at least part of the system is analog rather than digital, meaning that part or all the input/output data is encoded continuously in a physical parameter, and the weights can also be physical, with the ultimate goal of surpassing digital hardware in performance or efficiency.

I am trying to understand what format does a node take in PNNs. Is it a transistor? Or is it more complex than that? Or, is it a combination of a few things such as analog signal and some other sensors which work together to form a single node that looks like the one we are all familiar with?

Can anyone please help me understand what exactly is "physical" about PNNs?

[eightysixfour]

Here you go: https://arstechnica.com/science/2018/07/neural-network-imple...

[sigmoid10]

It's just a general idea to implement the computation part of neurons directly in hardware instead of software. For example by calculating sums or products using voltages in circuits, i.e. analog computing. The actual implementation is up to the designer, who in turn will try to mimic a certain architecture.