Ardbox Q
| Type | Industrial PLC based on Arduino UNO Q. The first industrial PLC with Arduino UNO Q. |
| Manufacturer | Industrial Shields, developed in collaboration with Arduino |
| Part of family | Arduino PLC range |
| Architecture | STM32U585 microcontroller for real-time control, plus a quad-core 64-bit Arm processor running Debian Linux for data, dashboards and AI models |
| I/O | 19 (Analog) or 20 (Relay) |
| Memory | 2 GB RAM with 16 GB eMMC, or 4 GB RAM with 32 GB eMMC |
| Communications | RS-485 (Modbus RTU), RS-232, SPI, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.1, USB-C. No wired Ethernet. |
| Power supply | 12 to 24 Vdc |
| Format | DIN rail, 100 x 45 x 115 mm, IP20 |
| Certifications | CE |
| Programming | Arduino IDE (control side), Arduino App Lab, Python, Node-RED, Docker (Linux side) |
| Licences | Open tools, no licence fees |
| Product page | /ardbox-q-arduino-uno-q-plc-ai |
What it is
Ardbox Q is an industrial PLC from Industrial Shields built on Arduino UNO Q. It puts real-time control and Linux data processing in one DIN-rail device. In many installations these two jobs still need two devices: a PLC for the process and a PC or gateway for the data. Ardbox Q does both.
Architecture
- Control side: an STM32U585 microcontroller runs the control program (inputs, logic, outputs). It is programmed in C++ with the Arduino IDE.
- Application side: a quad-core 64-bit Arm processor runs Debian Linux for data logging, dashboards, protocol conversion and AI models, with Python, Node-RED or Docker.
- Link between both: Arduino App Lab lets the two sides share data in one project.
- Separation: if a Linux application fails, the control program keeps running.
AI on the device
AI models run on the Linux side of the same device, with no extra AI module and no PC next to the controller. Data is processed where it is generated and only results need to leave the site. A camera can be connected for vision applications. For heavier models or several containers, choose the 4 GB RAM version. See AI applied to industrial PLCs.
When to choose Ardbox Q
- The project needs control and data processing or AI in the same device.
- Up to 20 I/O are enough, with 0 to 10 V analog signals or relay outputs.
- Field devices connect over RS-485 (Modbus RTU), and the site uses Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.
- The team already works with Arduino code, Python or Node-RED.
When not to use it
- Simple on/off logic with no data: a classic PLC or Ardbox is simpler.
- Safety functions: use a certified safety controller.
- Wired Ethernet or many more I/O: see M-Duino or Raspberry PLC.
Models
| Model | Digital in | Analog or digital in (0 to 10 V) | Digital out | Analog out (0 to 10 V) | Relay out | Total I/O | Price from (2 GB) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ardbox Q Analog | 4 | 6 | 3 | 6 (or PWM) | 0 | 19 | €255.00 |
| Ardbox Q Relay | 4 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 20 | €225.00 |
Prices excluding VAT, read from the online store. The 4 GB RAM versions cost more.
Analog is for measurement and proportional control. Relay switches motors, pumps and valves directly.
Typical applications
- Predictive maintenance: read vibration, current or temperature, detect anomalies locally, alert before a failure.
- Vision quality control: connect a camera and run inspection models next to the line.
- Machine HMI: serve dashboards from the device to a screen or browser.
- Remote telemetry: tanks, wells and remote stations; process locally and send only summaries.
- IoT gateway: read Modbus RTU field equipment and publish the data over MQTT.