# Arduino Edge Control **URL:** \ **Category:** Uncategorized\ **Created:** [20 July 2021 00:27 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/arduino-edge-control/10753 "2021-07-20T00:27:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Gerard163258](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a5b964/32.png) [@Gerard163258](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/u/Gerard163258)\ **Post date:** [20 July 2021 00:27 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/arduino-edge-control/10753/1 "2021-07-20T00:27:53Z")
Hi Everyone, Has anyone done anything with the Arduino Edge Controller? It’s specifically designed for agricultural purposes. I bought one but it seemed too restrictive for what I wanted to do with it. So I went back to the drawing board (literally!) Regards, Gerard ---
**Author:** ![Owen](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/forum.core-electronics.com.au/owen/32/2948_2.png) [@Owen](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/u/Owen)\ **Post date:** [20 July 2021 00:47 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/arduino-edge-control/10753/2 "2021-07-20T00:47:48Z")
Hey Gerard, I don’t have any experience with these myself, however, they seem like very capable boards! The optional addition of an [Arduino MKR](https://core-electronics.com.au/search/?q=mkr) means they have some expansibility as well. What sort of features were you looking for? We might be able to make some suggestions! ---
**Author:** ![Gerard163258](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a5b964/32.png) [@Gerard163258](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/u/Gerard163258)\ **Post date:** [20 July 2021 02:07 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/arduino-edge-control/10753/3 "2021-07-20T02:07:53Z")
The main thing I don’t like about the AEC is the way they connect to the outside world. They use Phoenix 9x2 male connectors and the female side of things has a push fit for attaching wires. This would work really well for prototyping but if you were manufacturing even on a medium scale, the assembly times would blow out. I did design the Arduino Edge Control PCB to mount on a “backplane” that I designed. This backplane uses screw terminals to interface the Arduino to the big, wide world. I’ve got a photo somewhere that I’ll post up. ---
**Author:** ![Gerard163258](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a5b964/32.png) [@Gerard163258](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/u/Gerard163258)\ **Post date:** [20 July 2021 02:21 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/arduino-edge-control/10753/4 "2021-07-20T02:21:01Z")
![20210720_121220](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/uploads/core_electronics/original/2X/0/08dc7345b928c11c7b2f49f7d162d0712cd7f121.jpeg) ![20210720_121334](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/uploads/core_electronics/original/2X/2/2cb24378637d32c13f05a81c0750499d06273c44.jpeg) ![20210720_121441](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/uploads/core_electronics/original/2X/0/0ce1ede0d6727e51dc182be6825c7eba1249beba.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Owen](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/forum.core-electronics.com.au/owen/32/2948_2.png) [@Owen](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/u/Owen)\ **Post date:** [20 July 2021 03:39 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/arduino-edge-control/10753/5 "2021-07-20T03:39:24Z")
Hey Gerard, We’re sorry to hear that one wasn’t quite suitable for the project. > [@Gerard163258](#): > > but if you were manufacturing even on a medium scale, the assembly times would blow out You’re completely right on that, it’s just a little unfortunate they haven’t opted to use something a little more suitable for commercial/industrial use. My recommendation would be a custom PCB but you’ve already gone and done that 😄 I’ve had a look around into other “Agriculture” boards and can’t find much I’m afraid, so my best suggestion would be to find someone to do a custom build so you can get the features you’re after and scrap the parts you don’t need. You can check out our [commercial support page](https://core-electronics.com.au/commercial-support) where we recommend getting in touch with SAPHI who do some great prototyping and design work right here in the Hunter. ---
**Author:** ![Robert93820](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ac91a4/32.png) [@Robert93820](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/u/Robert93820)\ **Post date:** [20 July 2021 03:40 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/arduino-edge-control/10753/6 "2021-07-20T03:40:16Z")
Hi Gerard Good looking interface. I note you have used better quality terminal blocks with wire protectors. Good thinking for the long term reliability. Cheers Bob ---
**Author:** ![Gerard163258](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a5b964/32.png) [@Gerard163258](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/u/Gerard163258)\ **Post date:** [20 July 2021 05:02 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/arduino-edge-control/10753/7 "2021-07-20T05:02:51Z")
Thanks Owen & Bob, I redesigned the whole kit to revert back to the Arduino Atmega 328 and am laying out a purpose-built PCB using I2C to “talk” to the peripherals out in the field. This decision was partly based on the excellent tutorial on I2C that I found here! I discovered Core Electronics searching for information that I read up in the Arduino Edge Control stuff. So it’s gone full circle in a way. What I actually need is for someone to take some work load off me and write some C code. That will enable me to pursue the hardware design and project management (my day job is PM’ing IT infrastructure for Linfox which I do as a contractor) My wife thinks I’m a mad professor type especially now that I’m at Uni!! ---
**Author:** ![James](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/forum.core-electronics.com.au/james/32/4400_2.png) [@James](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/u/James)\ **Post date:** [22 July 2021 06:31 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/arduino-edge-control/10753/8 "2021-07-22T06:31:34Z")
Hi Gerard, You definitely seem to be in deep now! Glad to see such in-depth prototyping work in the wild! Keen to see where you go with this one… Automated agriculture is definitely already/going to be a big thing. -James ---
**Author:** ![Gerard163258](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a5b964/32.png) [@Gerard163258](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/u/Gerard163258)\ **Post date:** [23 July 2021 05:13 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/arduino-edge-control/10753/9 "2021-07-23T05:13:15Z")
Hi James, I think you are right with Agriculture. I redesigned the PCB so that I included a complete Arduino Uno into the schematic. I’ll have to post the schematic up for comments, etc. I used KiCAD eeschma for the schematic. Seems pretty easy/intuitive to use. What I realised is that I need a small PCB for each bed. That means communication from each bed back to the ‘mothership’. Not a big deal really as nothing happens too fast in this design. Over distance (say 1km) I could use a Cambium point to point link but others here might have a simpler solution. Anyway, I start at Swinburne on 2nd August having moved across from UniSA so I guess that will take a big chunk out of my day!