Arduino Starter Kit (Absolute Beginner)

Jargon buster

Plain-language definitions for the technical terms used above.

encoder

A device attached to a motor or shaft that reports movement, such as rotation steps or position. In a pump system, an encoder can help measure or control how much the motor has turned, which affects how repeatable the watering amount can be.

LDR

A light-dependent resistor is a component whose resistance changes with light level. It is useful for simple brightness sensing, and an ADC board is needed to turn its changing analogue voltage into numbers a microcontroller or computer can read.

LED

A light-emitting diode is a small electronic component that lights up when current flows through it in the correct direction. In this kit, LEDs create the flashing effect, so polarity and correct soldering matter for the project to work.

PIR sensor

A passive infrared sensor detects changes in heat, usually from a person moving across its view. It matters because PIR sensors are common for lights and alarms, but they can miss people who are present but not moving much.

servo

A servo is a motor with built-in position control, usually told to move to a specific angle by a control signal. It matters when you need repeatable movement, such as steering, arms, flaps, or linkages, rather than continuous spinning.