An Interview with Zach Fredin

Welcome, Zach Fredin of NeuroTinker!

• • Follow the ongoing project documentation of the Neurobyte project on Hackaday.io!
  • Zach and Chris have known each other since 2004! They went to CWRU together.
  • Zach got into the world of neurons when a friend started simulating them in Sketchup (formerly Google, now owned by Trimble)
  • Watch the NeuroBytes in action on instagram or on YouTube (follow Zach's channel for a range of videos, including side projects)

testing fifty #neurobytes on the #demorug

A video posted by We make NeuroBytes! (@neurotinker) on Mar 22, 2016 at 4:39pm PDT

• • He partnered with Joe Burdo after they connected on Hackaday.io. When checking out Joe's credentials, Zach realized "The link was purple!"
  • See Zach and Joe talking about NeuroBytes at Maker Faire NY 2016
  • They got initial funding via SBIR
  • NIH was funding STEM games but they didn't get that funding
  • NSF was funding "Educational applications", which they did get!
  • Tips for SBIR grant
    • Email the grant director
    • Get solid letters of support (customers)
    • RTFM
  • Money
    • Phase 1 (success) - $150K
    • Phase 2 (pending) - $750K
  • Zach was surprised that they build in the ability to pivot but said, "Do you know how much paperwork a pivot would be?"
  • If someone wants to see their application, email [email protected]
  • They used Keytronic EMS for manufacturing. It is local in Minneapolis.
  • The design has 5 dendrites, 2 axons and is connected via JST connectors/wire. Or check out their quickstart guide for more info.
  • He's still looking for the link to the multidisciplinary article for STEM, if you know what he was talking about please leave a comment.
  • Selling into education is tough. Little Bits has been doing that well (and raised $60M+ to do so)
  • For Christmas Zach got a Flir Lepton sensor and the Seeed studio ESP32S.
  • Zach made an oscilloscope using the Teensy and a 240x320 TFT. It was based off the printed guide Paul Stoffregen used in his training at the 2015 Hackaday Superconference.
  • As a fan of soldering, Zach has done some fun breakout for chips (when needed) and also hand-carves boards for prototyping.

Keep your fancy automated assembly boards, I'll take a hack any day (hanging with NeuroTinker)

A photo posted by Chris Gammell (@chrisgammell) on Oct 2, 2016 at 10:13am PDT

• Not available online, but Zach used to watch the Heathkit video guide to soldering
• Chris mentioned a presentation where they talked about how records are made.