Neurpyl’s Goal
Build a tool for exploring and teaching the behavior of neurons.
Neuron Behavior
Axons and Dendrites — Output and Inputs
Neurons have many short, localized dendrites and a single axon that stretches away from the main cell body. A neuron’s dendrites are stimulated by other neuron’s axons. With the appropriate stimulation of its dendrites, a neuron will activate its axon and stimulate any nearby neuron’s dendrites.
Myelin Sheath
Axons are coated in segments of a material, myelin, which electrically insulates the axon. This allows greater and faster signal integrity from the cell body through the axon to any downstream dendrites.
Neurpyl Product Design
Simulate neuron behavior with a handheld device. A handful of Neurpyls allow a user to create a small neural network. These networked Neurpyls can then be used to model common neural pathways found in the brain as well as what happens when afflicted with various disorders.
Physical Design
A single Neurpyl fits in an adult’s palm. The device physically mimics a neuron’s structure in that it has a central, spherical mass and from this central mass branches out several nodes less than 2” as well as single branch longer than 2”. These branching nodes terminate in magnetic electrical connections which allow a Neurpyl to be physically, electrically connected to other Neurpyls.
The central mass and axon branch contain LEDs for communicating the Neurpyl’s activity.
A Neurpyl’s axon branch will feature several removable clamps.
Engineering
Electromechanical Systems
USB-C Powered
MCU - ESP32-C3
Dendrite/Axon Connector
This system makes up the end of a Dendrite or Axon. These connectors are magnetically attractive and electrically conductive. Dendrites are inputs into the MCU and are magnetically oriented south. Axons are outputs from the MCU and are magnetically oriented north.
Axon Body
The Axon Body connects to the MCU and extends away from it and terminates in an Axon Connector. The body is flexible to a minimum of 80°. Along the length of the Axon Body are firmware controllable LEDs. Also along the length of the Axon Body are magnetic field sensors. At several intervals along the body and corresponding to the placement of the magnetic field sensors are mechanical fixtures to facilitate attaching a Myelin Clamp to the Axon Body.
Myelin Clamp
A Myelin Clamp can be attached to an Axon Body to emulate the myelin sheath that encases a neuron’s axon. This clamp mechanically mates with the Axon Body at specific positions. The clamp contains a magnetic field that can be detected by the magnetic field sensors in the axon body.
Firmware Systems
MicroPython will be used on the ESP32-C3 MCU to emulate a neuron’s behavior. The system will accept several (5) digital inputs (dendrites) and provide a digital output contingent on those inputs (axon). The system will be able to assume different behaviors/profiles to correlate its dendrites to its axons based on runtime configuration.
Web Systems
A customized Jupyter notebook allows a user to visualize their Neurpyl network. Additionally, a user can explore and change each Neurpyl's settings or upload new behaviors.
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