This guide will walk you through all of the gifts that your beloved engineered is guaranteed to enjoy, regardless of their age or experience. Whether you are shopping for a novice tinkerer under 10 years old, a pesky teen that’s impossible to shop for, or a veteran engineer, this list has something for all of them.
Raspberry Pi Cookbook
The Raspberry Pi Foundation has long led the way for making single-board computers popular for electronics tinkerers, hobbyists, engineers, makers, and DIY enthusiasts. If you have never heard of a Raspberry PI (no, not the scrumptious binge-worthy dessert), then that is great because this Raspberry Pi Cookbook is exactly what will help get you (or a loved one) started down the path of building the extremely low-cost Raspberry Pi Single-Board Computer. The Raspberry Pi Cookbook was written by Simon Monk, who has a PhD in Software Engineering and has been an avid voice in the electronics hobbyist and inventor world. The Cookbook comes with over 200 recipes that will walk you through everything from how to connect sensors, code with Python, and even use new interface boards.
littleBits
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) education has become a staple of the modern childhood experience, but the right educational tools can be hard to come by. littleBits Deluxe Kit is an out-of-the-box introduction to the electronics world, even for those with little to no experience. The Deluxe Kit allows anyone to begin building inventions in a very user-friendly way—there is no soldering, wiring, or programming required! The little Bits Deluxe Kit is perfect if you’re teaching your kiddo about general electronics or trying to learn it yourself. We promise you will love it, at least a little bit.
Since the making of this video, the LittleBits Deluxe Kit has been discontinued. Make sure to check out other great littleBits products like the Code Kit, Rule Your Room Kit, Gizmo and Gadgets, and STEAM Student Set!
Google AIY Voice Kit
There is no surprise that yet another one of our favorite gifts for any engineer features a Raspberry Pi (not included). However, this kit is really the first of its kind, which makes it very exciting for just about anyone who can get their hands on it! The Voice Kit was developed by AIY Projects, a Google partner, with the single purpose of integrating the Google Cloud API on your Raspberry Pi seamlessly with the AIY Voice HAT board, accessory microphone, and DIY package. Scary words. I know. Basically, you’ll be able to turn your Raspberry Pi Mini Computer in your own DIY Google Home and then customize it to your own liking! This very well may be the coolest stand-alone kit for Raspberry Pi that has come out, well, ever. This one is a must-get no matter what time of year, especially if you or your loved one have any sort of passion for customizing the world around you. For a cool demo on how to get started with your AIY Kit, check out this quick-start video!
Particle Photon
Speaking of customizing the world that we live in… the particle photon may take the cake for the best IoT prototyping device that is extremely user friendly. Imagine you wanted to be able to control a light in your home from from anywhere in the world. Well, you can easily do that with the particle photon and your smart phone. Based off of the Arduino coding IDE, the Particle Photon programming interface is extremely simple to use and all takes place wirelessly from a web browser. All you need to get started building your own Internet of Things device is a computer and a sprinkle of creativity! The Particle community comes with loads of great example projects, so even if you or your enginerd does not have any DIY experience this kit is surely a great gift for this holiday season!
관련 상품 참조
Newton’s Cradle
This one is a classic, no matter who you are. The Newton’s Cradle will go well on the desk of any engineer and certainly won't break the bank. Originally intended as a tool to illustrate the conservation of momentum, Newton’s Cradle has become a classic must-have for anyone who can appreciate a beautifully subtle illustration of science at work.
OpenScope MZ
OpenScope MZ is a DIY inventors dream tool, plain and simple. This low cost device is the perfect tool for any engineer's toolbox as it is capable of visualizing, generating, and controlling digital and analog signals. With so many other similar tools out there that can cost thousands of dollars, this multi-function instrument blows them away with its affordability. The OpenScope MZ connects to your computer via WiFi or USB for programming, which means it operates similarly to an Arduino or Raspberry Pi but with high-speed and precision digital and analog I/O. It also comes with the free open source WaveForms Live, which allows users to configure the OpenScope MZ to be an oscilloscope, function generator, logic analyzer, power supply, and even a data logger.
Pimoroni Picade
Okay, I promise this is the last holiday gift for an engineer that features a Raspberry PI. However, this one is a video game. Rather, this is a video game console that allows your enginerd to emulate hundreds (that's right, HUNDREDS) of retro arcade games! This means unlimited play on Pac Man, Galaga, Space Invaders, and many more—all on the same console. Best of all, this console actually looks like a miniature arcade. The Pimoroni Picade kit comes with almost everything you need to get started building your own arcade console. The only requirement is Raspberry Pi.
관련 상품 참조
For more awesome gifts for your engineer, check out some of our other holiday gift guides!