An innovative and disruptive technology is at the heart of a new range of silicon capacitors from Murata*, now available at RS Components. The patented technology from Murata Integrated Passive Solutions enables the integration of a wide range of capacitor values in silicon, allowing the range to be used in many applications that require high performance and miniaturisation.

The Braccio Tinkerkit is a low cost and great fun way to get started in robotics. Plus, if you loved Meccano as a child, this may just bring back some fond, childhood memories for you. This instalment of ‘What you can do in a day’ provides pictogram build instructions in a step-by-step format, taking you through each stage required to build the Braccio robot arm. Article contributed by RS Components (click for original).

The latest member of the BeagleBone Black family of computer boards – the BeagleBone Black Wireless is available at RS Components. The new credit-card-sized board is based on the BeagleBone Black and is an easy-to-use Linux computer that integrates Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity and a significant amount of I/O for sensor and control applications.

From 16th January 2017, you can get your hands on the latest and greatest version of the Compute Module from the Raspberry Pi Foundation. So, what can you expect from this next generation Compute Module? Well, the Raspberry Pi Compute Module 3 (CM3) is the latest product to be launched by Raspberry Pi. It’s a small form factor SODIMM Module and, as such, targets embedded systems designers developing industrial-type applications. Article co...

The Arduino CTC 101 Education Kit, a complete e-learning platform enabling young students to learn the fundamentals of electronics, programming and mechatronics is available at RS Components. The kit has been designed for teachers and other instructors working in education and is specially tailored for the 13 to 17 age group at secondary schools.

RS Components (RS) has signed a global distribution agreement with Digilent. The agreement augments the extensive portfolio of semiconductors and tools stocked by RS from a wide range of leading semiconductor vendors.The deal provides access to a wide range of popular FPGA and microcontroller development boards, JTAG programmers and a range of microcontroller peripheral application boards and portable instruments.

Find out how to add Adafruit’s Ultimate GPS HAT to a Raspberry Pi 3 Model B, giving Pi high accuracy time capabilities, in addition to positioning capabilities. Andrew Back, a regular contributor to DesignSpark, takes you through every stage of the project providing all the code you need to test and implement the Ultimate GPS Hat.

The SPD800 series of CMOS technology digital and analogue differential pressure sensors from Sensirion is now available at RS Components (RS). Targeting high-volume applications, the sensors have been designed to measure the pressure of air and non-aggressive gases and deliver accurate and stable results covering a range of up to +/–500 Pa (+/– 5 millibars or +/– 2 inches of water), even at very low differential pressures.

Adding considerable muscle to its test and measurement range RS Components has added more than 500 professional, affordable products to the RS Pro range. The products, which previously formed the ISO-TECH range, have been rebranded to strengthen the own-brand portfolio of more than 40,000 high-quality competitively priced industrial products and electronic components.

If you’re looking for a serious contender for your IoT projects, you might feel somewhat bemused by the mass of 64-bit SBCs that have sprung up in the wake of the Raspberry Pi’s success. In a guest blog, Redstone reviews the Creator Ci40 Kit from Imagination Technologies. Article contributed by RS Components (click for original).

The free-for-download DesignSpark PCB design tool has racked up 100,000 users of the educational network licence says RS Components. Since the introduction of DesignSpark PCB in 2011, the educational network licence has enabled 100,000 users from more than 200 places of education across the globe, including schools, academies, colleges and universities, to learn, share and use the PCB tool quickly and effectively.

The programmable logic controller (PLC) that is today a mainstay of industrial automation is set for major changes in combination with the move to industrial internet of things (IIoT).

A revolutionary human flying suit has been built and flown by British entrepreneur and inventor Richard Browning. The ‘Daedalus’ suit designed by Browning’s human propulsion start-up, Gravity, breaks into an entirely new aviation category that has been likened to superhero Tony Stark’s Iron Man. RS Components has assisted Gravity’s development by providing tools, components and expertise to support the engineeri...

The advent of the Internet of Things, the automated home and Industry 4.0 is driving the need for more connectors. Although these technologies focus on wireless networks from your phone, the network will require additional connected equipment. On the upside, the new equipment will be compatible with existing infrastructure, which is a bonus as few companies can afford to replace their existing network to install new devices, so these network...

The portfolio of connector products from TE Connectivity at distributor RS Components has been extended with more than 180 enhanced products from some of the most popular TE families. A number of the new connectivity devices are manufactured from ‘Glow Wire’ materials, which meet the electrical safety test required by the IEC/EN60335-1 standard.

The PCB Part Library is a service offered for free to all RS Components' customers, a place where you can find or request product component models and footprints for inclusion in your latest design, whatever CAD design software you use. Russell Johnson, Director of Hitomi Broadcast had a problem to solve with one of his new designs, Russell explains.

A range of high-performance and high-reliability laser-diode modules from Global Laser is now in stock at RS Components. Designed for use in many specialist applications such as machine alignment and process control, as well as for maintaining precision laboratory and R&D equipment, the range includes a series of robust and reliable laser diode modules for use in a wide variety of alignment and positioning applications.

RS Components is sponsoring a competition from the Hackster developer community, based on the SIMATIC IOT2020 open gateway. The idea for the competition is for engineers, makers and students to come up with innovative applications and solutions based on the open and highly flexible IoT gateway.

Robert Feranec is the founder of FEDEVEL Academy, a Californian-based school dedicated to teaching schematic and PCB design principles to hobbyists, engineers and companies alike.

A range of development boards and accessories from Pycom to support engineers designing for IoT (Internet of Things) applications are available at RS Components. Based on a MicroPython enabled microcontroller, the boards offer a platform for connected things with multiple communication standards.