question of the day : I don't know what this is?

It isn't currently bolted down where is should be. Was originally bolted at/along with coil bracket.
The electric choke heater was only assist to open the choke a little faster in order to satisfy EPA. The same old heat activated choke coil should serve just fine. Toss that POS controller in the trash. It's probably dead anyway. They weren't sealed water tight so odds are its corroded all to hell inside today.