EDGE101 Industrial ESP32 IoT Programmable Controller with 4G CAT1 (RS485, CAN, Ethernet)
Introduction
The EDGE101 ESP32 Programmable Controller (4G CAT1) is an industrial-oriented IoT controller built on the ESP32 platform. It combines the development flexibility of open-source Arduino-compatible workflows with field-ready communication interfaces, including RS485, CAN bus, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPIO, I²C and pre-installed 4G CAT1 cellular connectivity. With a rugged metal enclosure, wide 9–26 V power input and multiple mounting methods, this controller helps developers move from desktop IoT prototyping toward real deployment in monitoring, automation and gateway applications.
Integrated Industrial Interfaces for Field IoT
Most basic ESP32 development boards expose GPIO but do not directly provide the industrial communication interfaces required for field systems. This programmable controller integrates an isolated RS485 interface, isolated CAN bus interface, 10/100 Mbps Ethernet port, 11 native ESP32 GPIOs, three I²C interfaces, a TF card slot and a Nano SIM card slot. The result is a compact controller platform for Modbus equipment, CAN devices, local storage and sensor expansion without building every interface from scratch.
Figure: EDGE101 industrial interfaces with Ethernet, RS485, CAN and 4G CAT1 connectivity
Built-In 4G CAT1 and Multi-Network Connectivity
The controller comes with a pre-installed 4G CAT1 communication module for out-of-the-box cellular connectivity. Together with 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2, Ethernet and serial bus interfaces, the platform supports flexible network choices for remote IoT nodes, gateways and maintenance workflows. OTA firmware upgrades also help simplify long-term device updates, making the controller practical for systems where physical access is limited or inconvenient.
Industrial-Grade Protection for Reliable Deployment
Designed for field installation, the controller uses a durable metal enclosure and comprehensive protection circuits, including electrical isolation, ESD protection, lightning protection, overvoltage protection and reverse polarity protection. It supports 9–26 V terminal power input or USB Type-C 5 V / 2 A input, and operates from –20°C to +75°C. The product also complies with EU CE requirements and has completed EMC, RF and LVD compliance testing for European Union distribution.
Flexible Mounting and Guided Development Resources
Multiple installation methods are supported, including DIN rail mounting, wall mounting with brackets, flat mounting and vertical installation. This flexibility makes the controller suitable for equipment cabinets, gardens, rooftops, garages and electrical distribution rooms. Free online tutorials cover GPIO, PWM, ADC, serial communication, I²C, SPI, TF card storage, timers, watchdog timer, CAN bus, RS485, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Ethernet, 4G communication and MQTT examples, helping shorten the path from testing to deployment.
Figure: EDGE101 DIN rail and wall mounting options
Features
- ESP32 main controller running at up to 240 MHz with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth wireless connectivity
- Isolated RS485 interface
- Isolated CAN bus interface
- One 10/100 Mbps Ethernet port
- Built-in PCIe slot with a pre-installed 4G CAT1 communication module; supports replacement or expansion with other PCIe communication modules such as NB-IoT
- 11 native ESP32 GPIOs and 3 I²C interfaces
- TF card slot for local data storage
- Supports OTA firmware upgrades for remote device maintenance and updates
- Industrial-grade design with electrical isolation, ESD protection, lightning protection, overvoltage protection and reverse polarity protection
- Complies with EU CE requirements and has completed EMC, RF and LVD compliance testing
- Rugged metal enclosure protects against accidental contact and animal damage
- Supports DIN rail mounting, wall mounting with brackets, flat mounting and vertical installation
Applications
- Outdoor environmental data acquisition
- Greenhouse monitoring and automation
- Water leakage monitoring for warehouses, base stations and construction sites
- Small-scale industrial automation
- Robot controller
- PLC data acquisition
- MQTT gateway
- Modbus RTU gateway
Figure: Application scenarios for industrial IoT control and monitoring
Specification
Basic Parameters
- Supply Voltage: 9–26 V, or USB Type-C 5 V / 2 A
- Standby Current: 50 mA @ 12.0 V (power terminal) | 100 mA @ USB 5.0 V
- Operating Temperature: –20°C to +75°C
- Dimensions: 128 × 76 × 31 mm
- Weight: 335 g
Performance Parameters
- Processor: ESP32 dual-core 32-bit processor, up to 240 MHz, delivering up to 600 MIPS
- Flash: 16 MB
- RAM: 520 KB SRAM, 16 KB RTC SRAM
- 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi and Bluetooth dual-mode
Wi-Fi Features
- IEEE 802.11 b/g/n (2.4 GHz)
- Maximum PHY data rate: 150 Mbps
- Supports Station mode, SoftAP mode and Promiscuous mode
Bluetooth Features
- Bluetooth 4.2 supporting both Classic Bluetooth (BR/EDR) and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)
- Transmit power up to +12 dBm
- BLE receiver sensitivity down to –94 dBm
- Supports BLE Mesh networking. Combined with Wi-Fi, it can function as a Mesh gateway for environments where large-scale Wi-Fi deployment is impractical, such as outdoor public areas, industrial facilities and mines.
Interfaces
- One 10/100 Mbps Ethernet port for reliable industrial communication
- One CAN bus interface for industrial CAN devices and automotive OBD equipment
- One RS485 interface for industrial RS485 devices and Modbus equipment
- One PCIe slot with a pre-installed 4G CAT1 communication module; supports PCIe communication modules such as NB-IoT
- 11 GPIOs for relays, digital modules and analog sensors
- Three I²C interfaces for connecting sensors and peripherals
- One TF card slot for firmware upgrades via TF card
- One Nano SIM card slot
- One Reset button and one onboard user button
Shipping List
- EDGE101 ESP32 Programmable Controller (4G CAT1) ×1
- 2.4G Wi-Fi Rubber Duck Antenna ×1
- 4G Rubber Duck Antenna ×1
- 5.08 mm 6-Pin Terminal Block Connector ×1
- Universal Metal Mounting Brackets ×2
- DIN Rail Mount Clips ×2
- M4 Round Head Screws ×4
- Warranty Card ×1