SPIKER:BIT PROJECT
SPIKER-MAN WEBFLINGER: AMICRO:BIT EMGSERVO PROJECT.
Use EMG muscle signals from your forearm to trigger a servo-powered web flinger with Spiker:bit and BBC micro:bit. It is a playful superhero build that teaches biological signals, threshold logic, MakeCode, and micro:bit control.
FEATURED IN MAKE: MAGAZINE
ALEX HATCH’S SPIKER-MAN WEB FLINGER MADE MAKE: VOLUME 96.
Make: Magazine’s Digital Fabrication Guide 2026 featured Backyard Brains designer Alex Hatch and the neuro-powered Spiker-Man Web Flinger.
The project also appeared in Make: Live’s Volume 96 show-and-tell lineup.
FROM MUSCLE SIGNAL TO MOTION
FLEX YOUR FOREARM. FIRE THE WEB.
The Spiker:bit reads a real EMG signal from the arm. A simple threshold in code turns that biological signal into a servo movement, so students can see the path from nervous system activity to a physical microcontroller output.
BUILD FLOW
THREE IDEAS STUDENTS CAN SEE AND TEST.
RECORD EMG
Place electrodes on the forearm and use Spiker:bit to detect the muscle signal produced when you flex.
SET A THRESHOLD
Code a threshold so the micro:bit can tell the difference between rest and a strong muscle contraction.
TRIGGER A SERVO
Use the threshold crossing to move a small servo and launch the web-flinger mechanism.
MATERIALS
START WITH SPIKER:BIT, THEN ADD THE LAUNCHER.
SPIKER:BIT + BBC MICRO:BIT
Use Spiker:bit to turn forearm EMG muscle activity into a micro:bit input.
ELECTRODES AND CABLE
Use surface electrodes and the electrode cable to pick up the forearm muscle signal.
SERVO AND LAUNCHER
Add a small servo and classroom-safe wrist launcher materials for the web-flinger motion.
CODE AND DOCS
USE EMG THRESHOLD LOGIC TO MOVE A SERVO.
The current Spiker-Man path uses Spiker:bit and micro:bit MakeCode-style threshold logic: read the muscle power signal, set a threshold, and trigger a servo when the forearm EMG signal crosses that threshold.
COMMON PROJECT QUESTIONS.
Yes. The project uses EMG muscle activity from the forearm to trigger a servo-powered web flinger.
The current version is positioned as a Spiker:bit and BBC micro:bit project. The retired Arduino Muscle SpikerShield archive remains available for older Arduino users.
The build centers on a Spiker:bit and BBC micro:bit, with electrodes, a small servo mechanism, a wrist-mounted launcher, and classroom-safe craft materials.
Yes. It is a classroom-friendly neuroengineering build when used as a supervised educational activity with surface electrodes and non-medical intent.