SparkFun OpenLog Artemis

Jargon buster

Plain-language definitions for the technical terms used above.

ADC

An analogue-to-digital converter reads a changing voltage and turns it into a number the microcontroller can use. It matters when connecting analogue sensors such as light, sound, or variable-resistor sensors.

ADS122C04

A Texas Instruments analogue-to-digital converter chip that measures small analogue voltages and reports them digitally over I2C. The exact chip matters because it sets the board’s resolution, input options, speed, and software support.

baud

Baud is the signalling rate of a serial connection, often used as the speed setting for UART communication. Matching the baud rate matters because both connected devices must use the same setting for readable data.

GPS

The US satellite navigation system used by GNSS receivers to calculate position and time. Support for GPS is important because it is widely available and often used together with other constellations for more reliable positioning.

I2C

I2C is a two-wire communication bus used by many sensors and small modules. It matters because several I2C devices can share the same two wires, but each device needs a compatible address and your controller must support I2C.

ICM-20948

A motion-sensing chip that combines accelerometer, gyroscope, and magnetometer measurements. The part number matters because it tells you the board can provide 9-axis orientation and movement data, and which software libraries or drivers are likely to work.

IMU

An Inertial Measurement Unit combines motion sensors to measure movement and orientation. It matters for asset tracking because it can detect movement, tilt, vibration, or changes in direction.

LiDAR

A sensing method that uses laser light to measure distance and build a 3D picture of the surroundings. It matters for robotics and autonomous systems because LiDAR data can help with mapping, navigation and obstacle detection.

LiPo

A lithium polymer rechargeable battery commonly used in portable electronics projects. It matters because LiPo batteries need correct charging circuitry and care, and this board includes hardware intended for that battery type.

magnetometer

A sensor that measures magnetic fields, often used to work out compass direction. It matters because nearby magnets, motors, or metal objects can affect readings and may require calibration.

microSD card

A microSD card is a small removable memory card used to store files such as audio tracks. For this product, the card is where the sound files live, so its capacity and formatting can affect how many sounds you can use.

MPU

A microprocessor unit is a processor designed to run a full operating system such as Linux, usually with external memory and storage. It matters because it can handle higher-level tasks like networking, video, and AI that are beyond a typical microcontroller.

NEO-M8P-2

A u-blox GNSS receiver module that supports high-precision RTK positioning. The exact module matters because it determines the board’s accuracy, update rates, supported interfaces, and whether it can work as a rover or base station.

PCB

A printed circuit board is a rigid board with copper tracks that connect electronic parts without loose wires. For this kit, the PCBs also form the airplane shape, so they are both the circuit base and part of the finished model.

Proximity sensor

A sensor that detects when an object is nearby without needing physical contact. For this product it matters because the useful detection range is short, up to about 200 mm, so it suits touch-free triggers and close object detection rather than long-distance measuring.

Qwiic

Qwiic is a plug-in connector system for I2C devices that uses small 4-pin cables, so you can connect compatible sensors without soldering. It matters because your controller or adapter also needs Qwiic, or you will need a cable or breakout to wire it up.

RTC

A Real-Time Clock keeps track of time even when the main processor is asleep or powered down, usually with a small backup battery. It matters for data logging and tracking projects that need accurate timestamps.

Thermocouple

A temperature sensor made from two different metals that produces a very small voltage depending on temperature. Because the signal is tiny, it usually needs careful amplification and accurate measurement hardware.

TMP117

A related Texas Instruments digital temperature sensor chip with a similar firmware interface to the TMP119. It matters because software written for the TMP117 may be adaptable to this board, but code may still need to check the chip identifier.

USB-C

A modern reversible USB connector used for power and data connections. On this product it matters because it can connect directly to a computer as well as to a microcontroller project.

ZED-F9P

A u-blox GNSS receiver module designed for high-precision positioning, including RTK rover and base-station use. The exact module matters because it determines the supported satellite bands, update rates, correction formats and achievable accuracy.