When we finally make contact with extraterrestrial life, I’m hoping they meet an engineer or a maker before anyone else. First impressions are everything after all. In the meantime, we can continue making cool gadgets while we wait.
We Come in Peace! is a clip-on badge that showcases a friendly alien in their spaceship. It has flashing eyes for the alien and a row of running lights across the bottom. A touch-sensitive switch at the base of the spaceship toggles the LEDs on and off, while different patterns of running lights are chosen at random.
While this kit does utilize through-hole components, the design itself is a little different. The designer calls it “pseudo SMD.” It’s easier to solder than a full surface-mount design, but slightly more difficult than a through-hole kit.
Despite this, the design allows the outward facing side of the board to be free from solder joints, which is cleaner overall. Have fun, and remember: the truth is out there!
