An apparatus is provided for detonation control in spark ignition engines. The apparatus includes an analog neurocomputing hardware device, a knock sensor coupled to a spark ignition engine, an ignition coil for the spark ignition engine, and an Electronic Control Unit (ECU) for the spark ignition engine. The analog neuromorphic hardware device is configured to receive knock signals from the knock sensor, receive ignition coil data from the ignition coil, determine a knock level and ignition quality measure based on the received knock sensor signals and the received ignition coil data, and transmit the knock level and ignition quality measure to the ECU.