20-Piece
Bit Driver Kit
$15 ifixit.com
I always resist buying kitted tools because they never seem
high-quality, but this kit is exactly what I need when my
electronics break. (iFixit has replacement parts and free
tutorials, too, so you don’t have to ditch that cracked iPhone
or shell out to have the Apple Store fix it.) The driver kit has
all the bits you’d want, in nice sizes, and with a convenient
case — a comprehensive toolkit for the electronics hacker.
It’s the sort of thing you probably wouldn’t buy for yourself,
but would be stoked to get as a gift. So buy one for a worthy
friend, or just make sure to suggest strongly to your better
half that it should show up in your stocking. —Saul Griffith
B@;;I<M@<N
NerdKits
$80 nerdkits.com
Ever since I got into robotics,
I’ve wanted to know more about
electronics and programming. I wanted a
good kit with a microcontroller, but the kits
I found were either too advanced or too
dumbed-down without many interesting
components.
I finally found a good kit. A USB NerdKit
comes with a lot of great stuff, including
an ATmega168 MCU, a buzzer, a 4×20-char-
acter LCD display, three different colors of
LEDs, a temperature sensor, switches, and
a potentiometer. It even comes with a great
guide and programmer! The guide starts
at the basics and works its way up to more
advanced topics. The programmer comes
with multiple languages and sample codes.
The NerdKits support team is quick and
helpful. There’s a great forum and even
video tutorials that explain how the programs and circuits work. I would definitely
recommend a NerdKit! —Dylan Kirdahy
Sea Perch ROV
About $75 seaperch.mit.edu
My favorite scene from Maker Faire 2009 was two girls laughing as they remote-piloted tiny submersibles around a big
tank of water. The Sea Perch ROV was developed by MIT Sea
Grant and the U.S. Navy to spark students’ interest in robotics,
engineering, and marine sciences. Obviously kids loved driving
the Sea Perch. Could it really be that easy for kids to make?
I decided to build one, and yes, it’s that easy. The parts
are standard stuff from hobby shops, hardware stores, and
RadioShack or Jameco. The free, downloadable instruction
manual is classroom-clear, and the vehicle design is simple
and forgiving, with DC motors potted in wax, and a frame
made of slip-fit PVC pipe that allows infinite adjustments.
It’s the first project I’ve soldered, and it was a piece of cake.
Bagged kits are provided for teacher trainings (sign up at
seaperch.mit.edu), but anyone can download the manual
and parts list and make their own kit. The website also has
video instructions, K– 12 and college curriculum ideas, an international data bank where students can upload data, and tips
on adding cameras and sensors. —KH
Soft Circuit
Sewing Kit
$15 bekathwia.etsy.com
Not to toot MAKE and CRAFT blogger
Becky Stern’s horn, but she’s put
together a fantastic kit for augmenting a
favorite garment or a needlework project
with LEDs. The kit is based on the demo
she gives at Maker Faire as an introduction
to sewing a soft circuit. There’s a free
video tutorial and step-by-step instruc-
tions if you’re not used to working with
soft circuits, and the kit includes
everything you need to get started;
just be sure to tell her what color
LEDs you want! —AOG
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