A Motor Encoder uses either a Hall Effect sensor or some kind of opto-interrupter to determine how fast a motor is turning. This is used by a PID Controller to set and maintain control over a robot motor.

Hall Effect#

This uses a small magnet attached to the motor's shaft and two electromagnetic Hall Effect sensors spaced 180° across each other from the shaft, which detect the motor's motion, with the sensors out of phase of each other. The phase shift permits a determination of motor direction (though this generally isn't required in a robot controller since we already know which direction the motor is going by the polarity we're sending it).

See: Interfacing Hall Effect Motor Encoder

Opto-Interrupter#

This uses an LED emittor-detector pair and a small wheel connected to the motor's shaft, with either holes (if the sensor is measuring the light passing through the holes) or alternating black and white patches (if the sensor is measuring reflected light).