You can even add a couple of extra sensors and actuators if you need them.

ENGADGET: Arduino Esplora helps you learn microcontrollers without the pesky breadboard

Shaped like a game controller, it's designed to be used out of the box without extra parts since it comes with many sensors and actuators already on it.

ENGADGET: Arduino Esplora helps you learn microcontrollers without the pesky breadboard

In 1994 it led a movement to do away with proprietary controls that had prevented customers from, say, mixing and matching its controllers with other manufacturers' peripherals, like sensors, monitors and actuators (powered doohickeys that control valves, levers and conveyors).

FORBES: Choreographer of the Assembly Line

Inspired to expand development options for their BeagleBone mini computer platforms, participants in the BeagleBoard.org community created cape plug-in boards to enhance the sensors, actuators and interfaces available on the BeagleBone platform.

ENGADGET: BeagleBone gets plenty of expansion options with new 'cape' add-ons

The equipment in Continental's highly automated vehicle differs from the customized sensors and tailor-made actuators in other automated vehicles.

ENGADGET: Continental gets automated vehicle approved for Nevada roads

Algorithms devised by Dr Goffer's colleagues at Argo Medical Technologies, the firm he founded to develop ReWalk, analyse the data from the sensors and use the result to operate the actuators.

ECONOMIST: Monitor

The actuators combined with signal information from the sensors can alert the driver to potential dangers, and help with things like parking or staying within highway lane markings.

FORBES: Think How Much Smarter Your Car Will Be In A Few Years