Backyard Brains Launches SpikerBot Neuroscience Robot
Ann Arbor's neuroscience nerds Backyard Brains are back with a new big-brained bot, featuring a "nervous system" that uses various types of "neurons" to create behaviours.
Hot off of the heels of their successful Spiker:bit brain-computer interface crowdfunding campaign, Ann Arbor's neuroscience nerds Backyard Brains are back with a new big-brained bot. The SpikerBot neuroscience robot may resemble other two-wheeled robotic platforms at first glance, but the team aims to set it apart with a unique programming interface. Instead of code, SpikerBot relies on a "nervous system" developed by dragging various types of "neurons" in order to create behaviours.
By combining two neurons, tuned to detect the colour blue in the left and right halves of the visual field respectively, with activators for the opposite wheel's motor, it's possible to create a Braitenberg Vehicle which autonomously seeks out blue stimuli. More advanced examples include using object detection via the robot's camera to provide an audio greeting from the built-in speaker when people are detected.
The robot features an ESP32-S3 microcontroller with PSRAM, 320×240 camera, four RGB LEDs, a microphone, infrared (IR) distance sensor, speaker with PCM audio, and two differential-drive motorized wheels. Four AA batteries propel the customizable body shell, while a free app enables drag-and-drop neural design. Standard BLE and Spiker:bit compatibility adds even more possibilities.
Currently available at "Launch Special" pricing of just $199, the SpikerBot is Backyard Brains' fifth crowdfunding campaign, and while there is always some inherent risk involved compared to buying a product off of a shelf, BYB have been doing this for over a decade and a half, and successfully fulfilled their recent Spiker:bit campaign's rewards – in fact I have one, and it's a really fun way to explore the world of EMG (muscle), ECG (heart), and EEG (brain) signals!
