Gadgets to get you through school! #backtoschool

Well, it’s that time again and our wicked summer is coming to an end. But don’t fret, we have a list of super cool gadgets for all you aspiring engineers that will keep your spirits high and your slide rules slidin’.

Apps for engineering: Just when you thought your smartphone couldn’t get more useful.

Circuit Playground (iProducts ONLY):

Circuit Playground simplifies electronics reference & calculation so you can have more fun hacking, making, & building your projects! This app is designed for both iPhone and iPad.

  • Decipher resistor & capacitor codes with ease
  • Calculate power, resistance, current, and voltage with the Ohm’s Law & Power Calc modules
  • Quickly convert between decimal, hexadecimal, binary or even ASCII characters
  • Calculate values for multiple resistors or capacitors in series & parallel configurations
  • Store, search, and view PDF datasheets
  • Access exclusive sneak peaks, deals & discounts at Adafruit Industries

AutoCAD WS (multi-platform):

Open and edit DWG files with just a web browser and from any computer. Manage and edit drawing files using a powerful set of AutoCAD© tools.

Mechanical Engineer (iProducts ONLY):

Mechanical Engineer, part of MultiEducator’s “Formulator” Line, is the perfect tool for any Mechanical Engineer or engineering student. Available for both iPad and iPhone/iPod Touch, our Mechnical Engineer app contains over 300 important mechanical engineering formulas, there are over 300 additional conversion formulas in the program as well as 70 area formulas. Major areas covered in the program now include: Actuators Bearings, Belts, Boiler, Brakes, Clutches, Elevators, Gears,Fluid Power, Heat Transfer,Internal Combustion, Kinetic Energy, Metalworking, Plates, Plumbs, Power Plants, Refrigeration,Shafts Springs and Vehicle Drive.

Tools for engineering: The following are tools that just about everyone should have in their backpack….or as their backpack.

Rainbow Highlighters

1428use_LRG
When you needed to trace a diagram in your Maker’s Notebook or highlight some important points in your engineering class, these highlighters let you do it and create new shapes in the interim. They’re a happy distraction to work, maybe just when you need it most, and useful to boot!

MintyBoost:

Make your own iPod/iPhone/GPS/etc… battery-pack and recharger!

This project includes all the electronic parts necessary to build your own MintyBoost: a small & simple (but very powerful) USB charger for your iPod (or other mp3 player), camera, cell phone, and any other gadget you can plug into a USB port to charge. If you have a Nintendo DS/GBA or a PSP you can buy charger cables from us, too.

Solar Backpack:

You need to charge your cell phone, iPad or Laptop and you don’t have a power outlet or even your charging cable with you … what can you do ? SOLARBAK is a cool, stylish and durable backpack with a detachable solar panel on it that will charge your devices from the SUN !!! SOLARBAK has a powerful new technology solar panel that charges a lithium-ion battery by using sunlight and even indoor light. The battery that comes with SOLARBAK will charge a dead cell phone very quickly as well as tablets, laptops and any portable electronic chargeable devices. SOLARBAK keeps you from being in a situation when you are powerless. Great for kids at school, music festivals, camping, hiking, biking, all kinds of travel as well as many other lifestyle activities. The 2 liter water bladder has a hose that reaches your mouth that can be used to hydrate you at events. SOLARBAK is made and guaranteed by VisionBay in Atlanta, Ga. … SOLARBAK … take YOUR POWER with you. Lithium-ion battery included.

SDO Nano V2:

This cute pocket oscilloscope is a perfect companion to your tool box. For beginners, its a good starter scope – it is not as complicated as a benchtop scope so its easy to use. For advanced EE’s, its useful as a scope-on-the-go, for field-debugging, when you don’t want to drag your scope over, or when a floating-ground is needed (it will naturally do ‘differential’ measurements as long as its not plugged into a computer USB port). It’s not a terribly fast scope, best used for signals up to 100KHz, and it is only a single channel, but we still find uses for it all the time, especially with analog projects!

Lady Ada’s Bento Box:

Portage for your Projects! Lady Ada’s Bento Box is a crush-proof, drop-proof & water-proof prototyping kit that combines the ultra-rugged Otterbox 3000 with a storage tin and half-size (400-point) breadboard. In the middle is a spot for attaching an Arduino UNO (or any other PCB that has the same shape and mounting holes). There’s plenty of clearance for wires (even ones with plastic bits on the end such as our premium jumper wires or wire bundles) and parts on the breadboard, and the box is so sturdy you never have to worry about any delicate parts inside getting damaged. Toss it in your backpack, suitcase, duffel bag and you can be sure to work on it when you get to school, work or home.

Bus Pirate:

Interfacing a new microchip can be a hassle. Breadboarding a circuit, writing code, hauling out the programmer, or maybe even prototyping a PCB. We never seem to get it right on the first try.

The ‘Bus Pirate’ is a universal bus interface that talks to most chips from a PC serial terminal, eliminating a ton of early prototyping effort when working with new or unknown chips. Many serial protocols are supported at 0-5.5volts, more can be added.

21st Century note taking: Below are some cutting edge note-taking (or not-note-taking) devices. I happen to be quite fond of my LiveScribe pen, as it has quickly taken the place of my tablet-pc and quad ruled notebooks.

Nexus 7:


Nexus 7 is a no compromise Android tablet that’s designed to go wherever you go. With a stunning 7” display, powerful quad-core processor and up to 8 hours of battery life during active use, Nexus 7 was built to bring you the best of Google in a slim, portable package that fits perfectly in your hand.

The Maker’s Notebook:

The best notebook on earth, The Maker’s Notebook. From the creators of Make Magazine comes the Maker’s Notebook. Put your own ideas, diagrams, calculations & notes down in these 150 pages of engineering graph paper. We’ve also included 20 bonus pages of reference material, from useful stuff like electronics symbols, resistor codes, weights and measures, basic conversions and more, to really useful stuff like the amount of caffeine in different caffeinated beverages and how to say “Hello, World!” in various computer languages. The covers of this hardcover book are printed in cyan “Maker” blue with a white grid debossed front and back. Grab one today!

Midnight Hacker, Leatherman Squirt ES4 Multi-Tool Keychain:

midnight hacker Leatherman Squirt
This handy dandy little device is so small it makes a great keychain (it’s less than half the size of a normal Leatherman). Just be careful you don’t have your kids under 18 bring it to school, it might get them in trouble! But in robotics or maker/hacker labs anywhere, this tool will win you friends right and left (not to mention come in handy more times than you can count.

I hope everyone has had a great summer and good luck with this upcoming school year!


Adafruit for Educators! #backtoschool

Kitsedu

Please visit our educator’s section to learn more about:

  • Adafruit volume discounts and programs for educators, discounts galore!
  • Adafruit electronic kits, products, Arduino & Raspberry Pi products for education, we have’em!
  • Adafruit products and Arduino for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). Used in schools!
  • The Adafruit System, the best way to learn electronics!
  • Adafruit iron-on “skill badges” / patches and partners, celebrate skills building!
  • Resources for educators, our picks for educators!
  • Adafruit for educators content on Adafruit.com, daily posts for educators!
  • Circuit Playground – iPad/iPhone App For Educators, volume discounts via Apple’s edu program!
  • Adafruit copyright permission for educators, educators can use them, hassle-free!

Visit.


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2 Comments

  1. And graph89,a ti89 emulator for android

  2. Most schools have a ban on taking knifes to school.
    That would include the Midnight Hacker, Leatherman Squirt ES4 Multi-Tool Keychain.

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