Rats Play Doom
a day ago
- #VR
- #Rats
- #DOOM
- Built a VR setup for rats to play DOOM, including a motion-tracked treadmill ball, panoramic headset, input trigger, and reward circuit.
- All hardware and software components are open-sourced, with 3D-printable designs, circuit diagrams, firmware, and control software.
- Version 1 (v1) was simpler, training rats to walk through a corridor in DOOM. Version 2 (v2) is more advanced and modular.
- Key components include a foldable AMOLED screen with 180° horizontal and 80° vertical FOV, upgraded sensors, and reinforced feeder system.
- Rats (Todd, Kojima, Gabe) aged out before full testing, but the setup works with behavioral validation pending.
- Hardware includes a motion-tracked sphere, custom trigger, curved panoramic screen, and automated reward system on a modular aluminum frame.
- Headset integrates air nozzles for whisker stimulation, reward dispenser, and placeholders for stereo audio cues.
- Locomotion uses a free-spinning ball with rotary sensors and motors for training.
- Trigger input is a hand-operated lever with a rotary encoder and stepper motor for programmatic control.
- Reward system delivers precise 10 µL sugar water doses via a mixer, pump, solenoid valve, and dispenser.
- Software is a modular Python system controlling motion capture, locomotion, trigger input, reward delivery, and DOOM integration.
- Rats learned to navigate and trigger shooting, with habituation taking two weeks per rat.
- Project invites others to build their own setups and offers a Rat VR Build Guide.