Gravity: Starter Kit for Arduino

Jargon buster

Plain-language definitions for the technical terms used above.

Ambient light sensor

A sensor that measures the general brightness of light falling on it, similar to how a device can adjust screen brightness automatically. It matters when you want a project to react to room lighting, daylight, shadows, or covered/uncovered conditions.

DC

DC means direct current, where electricity flows in one constant direction, as supplied by batteries, USB ports and many plug-pack power supplies. When a product specifies DC, it runs from a DC supply rather than mains AC, so you need to provide the correct voltage and polarity.

Gravity

Gravity is DFRobot’s plug-in connector system for sensors, motors and modules, using standard cables to reduce loose jumper wiring. It matters because Gravity-compatible parts can connect directly to these ports, while non-Gravity parts may need adapters or manual wiring.

IDE

Short for Integrated Development Environment, a program used to write, run and manage code. It matters because some learners prefer a traditional coding workspace instead of a guided notebook-style lesson.

kg·cm

A torque unit often used for hobby servos, meaning how many kilograms of force the servo can hold at a 1 cm arm length. A higher kg·cm rating means the servo can move or hold heavier loads, but power supply current needs may also increase.

LED

A light-emitting diode (LED) is a small electronic component that emits light when current flows through it in the correct direction. Because it only conducts one way, its polarity matters, and a through-hole LED must be soldered the correct way around to light up.

microcontroller

A microcontroller is a small computer on a single chip that runs a stored program and controls connected inputs and outputs such as buttons, sensors, displays and communication interfaces. In a device built around one, it is the part that executes the code and coordinates the device's behaviour.

PCB

A printed circuit board (PCB) is a board, usually rigid, with etched copper tracks that connect electronic components together without loose wiring. Components are mounted on the board and signals route between them through the copper layout.

Proximity sensor

A sensor that detects the presence of a nearby object without physical contact, using methods such as infrared, ultrasonic, capacitive, inductive or time-of-flight. Useful ranges vary widely between types, from a few millimetres to several metres, so check a given sensor's specified range to see whether it suits close-up touch-free triggers or longer-distance detection.

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.

servo motor

A motor module that moves to a commanded angle rather than simply spinning freely. It matters for robotics and mechanisms because it is useful for steering, arms, gates and other parts that need controlled position.

Shield

An add-on board that plugs into a main controller board to give it extra features such as sensing, motor control or communication. Knowing a product supports shields helps you judge whether it can connect neatly into an existing maker-board setup.