SpikerBot (Pre-Release)
SpikerBot combines a brain design studio with a palm-sized neurorobot, letting learners assemble spiking neural circuits into brain models that see, hear, move, blink, and beep.
Built for classrooms. SpikerBot translates complex brain science into an affordable, hands-on robot that lets students model neural circuits, see neural activity drive behavior, and build skills that underpin modern neurotechnology, nervous system medicine, and neuromorphic AI.
Get the App
Download the SpikerBot App — available for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Chrome OS.
When the app opens, you’ll see a brain-shaped canvas. Drag black (excitatory) or white (inhibitory) neurons onto the canvas, wire them up, and press Play to run the network.
Design Mode (Paused)
Live Brain Mode
Hardware at a Glance
SpikerBot is powered by an ESP32-S3 microcontroller with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, running on four AA batteries. Its sensor suite includes:
- 320 × 240 forward-facing RGB camera
- Microphone (mono, 8-bit PCM)
- Infrared distance sensor (~1 m range)
Output devices include:
- Two differential drive motors (left and right wheels)
- Four independently addressable RGB LEDs
- PWM tone speaker with PCM audio playback
The robot communicates wirelessly with the app via 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi for real-time control.
(AI-generated hardware preview)
Sensor / Effector | Specification |
---|---|
RGB Camera | 320 × 240 px, forward-facing |
Distance Sensor | Infrared (IR), approx. 1 meter range |
Microphone | Mono, 8-bit PCM stream |
Motors | Differential drive (left/right wheels) |
RGB LEDs | Four individually programmable LEDs |
Speaker | PWM tone + PCM audio output |
MCU | ESP32-S3 dual-core with Wi-Fi + BLE |
Power | 4 × AA batteries |
The ESP32 handles all sensing and actuation, while the neural simulation runs on your paired device and sends commands to the robot in real time.
Getting Started
- Power On: Flip the switch located on the underside of the robot.
- Connect: On your computer or tablet, connect to the robot’s Wi-Fi network (SSID printed on the robot).
- Wait: The robot’s LEDs will turn green when ready.
- Launch the App: Open the SpikerBot app, load or build a brain, and press Play to start controlling the robot.
Inside the App
The SpikerBot App provides an interactive workspace shaped like a brain where you design embodied spiking neural networks.
- Drag & Drop: Add excitatory (black) or inhibitory (white) neurons onto the canvas.
- Connect: Draw synaptic connections by dragging from neuron outputs (axon handles) to neuron inputs or effectors.
- Tune: Click any neuron to adjust properties such as firing type (Quiet, Burst, Custom) and polarity (Excitatory/Inhibitory).
- Play: Run the network and watch your robot respond in real time.
- Save: Brain designs can be saved or loaded in a portable JSON .brain format for sharing or further editing.
Neurons fire discrete spikes simulated by the biologically inspired Izhikevich model. Synapse weights (1-100) set connection strength: weights over ~25 ensure reliable activation; weights near 90+ create persistent feedback loops (similar to short-term memory).
Neural Circuit Building Blocks
Common neural circuit motifs you’ll use include:
- Reflex Arc: Direct sensor-to-effector connection producing simple stimulus-response behavior.
- Crossed Circuit: Connects left sensor to right motor and vice versa, enabling turning behaviors.
- Synaptic Integration: Multiple weak inputs converge on a neuron that fires only when inputs coincide.
- Recurrent Excitation: Feedback loops maintain neuron activity beyond the initial stimulus.
- Mutual Inhibition: Competing neurons inhibit each other, enabling decision-making by allowing only one behavior at a time.
How to Design Brains
- Define: Specify the desired robot behavior in observable terms.
- Decompose: Break the behavior into smaller sub-tasks.
- Draft: Build neural circuits (motifs) corresponding to each sub-task.
- Inhibit: Use inhibitory neurons to prevent conflicting behaviors.
- Test and Refine: Observe robot behavior, identify issues, and iteratively improve your network.
Brain Library
Starter Pack
Kickstart your SpikerBot exploration with six pre‑configured example brains:
- Download the Starter Pack (all-brains.zip).
- Unzip the contents into your local
Documents/SpikerBot/text
directory. - Load them in the app via File → Load, then choose any
.brain
file to run instantly.
Featured Example Brains
Tracker — Retinotopic Smooth Pursuit
- Neurons: 17 (all excitatory)
- Function: Keeps a moving green object centered by mapping nine horizontal “retinal” zones to differential wheel speeds, producing smooth, continuous tracking rather than zig-zag turns.
- Download: Tracker.brain
Two-Mood Pet — Bistable State Model
- Neurons: 30 (25 excitatory, 5 inhibitory)
- Function: Simulates two behavioral “moods” (Curious vs. Sleepy) using mutually inhibitory recurrent loops, illustrating rapid state switching akin to biological sleep–wake mechanisms.
- Download: Two-Mood Pet.brain
Troubleshooting
Symptom | Suggested Fix |
---|---|
Robot silent or immobile | Check power and battery status. |
Wi-Fi won’t connect | Toggle Play in app, confirm SSID, wait for LEDs to turn green. |
No movement | Ensure wheels are attached properly and unobstructed. |
Color mis-detection | Improve lighting conditions and check camera view. |
Next Steps
- Experiment with synapse weights to feel the emergence of reliable and memory-like behaviors.
- Combine neural circuits to build custom brains, then share your creations with the community!