A thought-controlled car, a solar-powered drone and a piece for a lunar vehicle were among more than 70 senior engineering projects on display April 19 at the University of Central Florida Senior Design Day Showcase and 5th Annual Senior Design Symposium on Renewable and Sustainable Energy. The projects are done by the 350 engineering students getting ready to graduate.

The Ultimate Kit Guide also includes an essay by MIT research fellow Michael Schrage on how kits drive technological innovation — and have since the dawn of the Industrial Revolution. Here’s Michael reading an excerpt from this revolution-minded essay, for your podcast-listening enjoyment. And, of course, if you’re looking for gift ideas this holiday season, kits are a great alternative that offers engagement, skill-building, and pride instead of passive consumerism.