The Intel Edison is a development platform designed by Intel to reduce entry barriers to help entrepreneurs, consumer product designers and inventors quickly prototype and develop Internet of Things devices and wearable products. It was originally designed to be the same shape and size as an SD card and have an Intel Quark x86 CPU (dual-core ) running at 400 MHz that communicates through Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. The CPU was later changed into a 22 nanometre Silvermont dual-core Intel Atom CPU.

A new thicker and larger version of Intel Edison was shown in September 2014 at IDF. It measures 35.5 mm x 25 mm x 3.9 mm and has components on both sides. The main SoC of the board is a 22 nanometre Intel Atom Tangier with 1 GB RAM, 1 Intel Quark core running at 100 MHz and 2 Atom Silvermont  at 500 MHz. The new version of Intel Edison also has USB controllers, Wi-FieMMC flash on board (4 GB) and Bluetooth 4 as well as 70-pin dense connector with GPIOs, USB, UARTs and SD.

The Intel Edison is compatible with an Arduino Uno board. It has 6 analog inputs, 20 digital input and output pins, 1 I2C, 1 UART and 1 ICSP 6-pin header. The board also has a micro USB device connector, DC power jack, SD card connector and micro USB device. Intel launched a breakout board that is two times the range of the Intel Edison development platform. It’s designed for prototyping with open source software and hardware. The board also has a battery charger, USB OTG power switch, Type-B connector and DC power supply jack DC input.

Modulowo Explore E, a development kit for Intel Edison, was launched in October 2015. It doesn’t only allow users to add sensors, communication modules, motor drivers, controller lights and GPS modules, but also design new solutions and make prototypes quickly.

How to Connect Intel Edison to a Computer

If you want to connect Intel Edison to a computer, you need to attach 2 micro USB cables to your PC.  Since the kit only has 1 cable, you have to purchase a second one. You will find a small switch beside the two micro ports on the board. It should be switched to the micro ports. A green LED will turn on once you hook up the power port to your computer.

In case you want to connect an Intel Edison kit for Arduino to your PC, you first need to install the FTDI driver in your device. Download it from a reliable site and run the file as administrator level. Just follow the instructions for installation. Open Device Manager once the kit is connected to your computer.

If you encounter a problem with the digital signature settings on your computer, you can restart Windows by pressing F8. Select Disable Driver Signature Enforcement. If you’re using Windows 8, click the Restart menu and press Shift. Choose Troubleshoot and then click Advanced options. Startup settings will be displayed. Just click the Restart button and Windows 8 will restart. Choose Disable Driver Signature Enforcement.

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