Glossary
SBC & Edge Computing
SBC (Single-Board Computer)
A complete computer system built on a single circuit board, including processor, memory, I/O ports and storage, ideal for embedded and edge computing projects.
Edge Computing
Distributed computing model that processes data near the source (on local devices) instead of relying solely on cloud servers, reducing latency and bandwidth usage.
Raspberry Pi
A series of popular low-cost, credit-card-sized single-board computers widely used in education, prototyping and IoT projects.
On-board I/O
Built-in input/output ports (GPIO, USB, Ethernet, HDMI, etc.) on SBCs for connecting peripherals.
MCU & Core Boards
MCU (Microcontroller Unit)
A compact integrated circuit designed to control specific operations in embedded systems, combining processor, memory and peripherals on one chip.
Core Board
A minimal circuit board that contains only the MCU and essential circuits, intended to be mounted on a baseboard or carrier board for expanded functions.
GPIO (General Purpose Input/Output)
Programmable pins on MCUs used to connect sensors, actuators and other electronic components.
Development Board
A complete board with MCU, power supply, I/O interfaces and expansion slots, ready for direct prototyping and testing.
IoT Wireless Modules
IoT (Internet of Things)
A network of physical objects embedded with sensors and connectivity to exchange data with other devices and systems over the internet.
WiFi Module
A component that enables devices to connect to wireless networks for high-speed data transmission.
Bluetooth Module
A short-range wireless communication module used for low-power data exchange between devices.
LoRa Module
A long-range, low-power wireless module ideal for IoT applications requiring wide-area coverage with minimal power consumption.
Sensor Modules & DAQ
Sensor Module
A device that detects physical environmental parameters (temperature, humidity, light, motion, etc.) and converts them into electrical signals.
DAQ (Data Acquisition)
The process of measuring or sampling physical signals from sensors and converting them into digital data for processing.
Analog Sensor
A sensor that outputs a continuous analog voltage signal proportional to the measured value.
Digital Sensor
A sensor that converts measured physical quantities directly into digital signals (e.g., I2C, SPI) for easy MCU processing.
Motor Drivers & Actuators
Motor Driver
A circuit board that controls the speed, direction and torque of motors by regulating power supply signals.
Actuator
A component that converts electrical energy into mechanical motion (e.g., motors, servos, solenoids).
Servo Motor
A rotary actuator that can precisely control angular position, commonly used in robotics and remote control systems.
Stepper Motor
A brushless DC motor that divides full rotation into equal steps, allowing precise position control without feedback.
FPGA Boards & Development Kits
FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array)
An integrated circuit with configurable logic blocks that can be re-programmed after manufacturing, ideal for high-speed parallel processing.
Development Kit
A complete package including an FPGA board, software tools, documentation and accessories for design and testing.
Xilinx FPGA
A popular brand of FPGA chips widely used in industrial, aerospace and embedded applications.
Tang Nano
A series of low-cost, compact FPGA development boards targeted at beginners and hobbyists.
Prototyping Tools & Accessories
Prototyping Tool
Tools used to build and test electronic circuits and projects during the design phase (e.g., breadboards, jumpers, multimeters).
Breadboard
A solderless platform for quickly building temporary electronic circuits without soldering.
Jumper Wires
Flexible wires used to connect components on breadboards and development boards.
Multimeter
A measuring instrument used to test voltage, current, resistance and other electrical parameters.