The Farmduino and Raspberry Pi are the central components of the FarmBot from an electronic systems perspective. The diagram below shows how the other electronic components connect to these boards, as well as how the two are connected to each other.

The Farmduino microcontroller uses Arduino architecture and it communicates with the Raspberry Pi using a G-code like language. The Farmduino controls the stepper drivers and motors, as well as the UTM and peripherals. The Farmduino provides power and control to all the electronic components of the FarmBot. The board has a layout and connectors that are optimized for FarmBot’s various peripherals and motor requirements.

Meanwhile, the Raspberry Pi is the web-connected brain that keeps track of FarmBot’s plants, sequences, regimens, events, and settings. Additionally, the Raspberry Pi is responsible for taking photos with the USB camera, and monitoring and controlling the push buttons and LEDs on top of the electronics box via the Pi adapter board.

Step 1: Attach the electronics box to the gantry

Attach the pre-assembled electronics box to the left gantry column using six M5 x 10mm screws and drop-in tee nuts. The top flange of the box should be butted against the bottom edge of the gantry corner bracket.

Step 2: Connect the peripherals

• Connect the LED lights to the Farmduino peripheral connector labelled LIGHTING (the top right connector on Farmduino). The connector will only fit in one direction.
• Connect the solenoid valve cable (with blue heat shrink) to the Farmduino peripheral connector labelled WATER (directly underneath the lighting connector). The connector will only fit in one direction.
• Connect the vacuum pump cable (with gray heat shrink) to the Farmduino peripheral connector labelled VACUUM (directly underneath the water connector). The connector will only fit in one direction.

The peripheral connectors are highlighted in orange

Step 3: Plug in the stepper motors and rotary encoders

Plug in the motor and encoder cables to the Farmduino. Each cable is labelled with a white sleeve, which corresponds to the connectors on the Farmduino. From left to right, the connectors on Farmduino are X1, X2, Y, and Z. Each connector can only be inserted in one direction, and has a locking tab to prevent it from falling out.

The motor and encoder connectors are highlighted in orange

Step 4: Plug in the camera

Plug in the camera to the Raspberry Pi.

The USB port on the Raspberry Pi is highlighted in orange

Step 5: Plug in the UTM cable

Plug in the UTM cable to the Farmduino. The connector will only fit in one direction.

The UTM connector is highlighted in orange

Once the UTM cable is physically connected to the Farmduino, you need to electrically connect it to the microcontroller using jumper wires. To use the default UTM pin mapping, connect five jumper wires from the upper row of pins to the lower row of pins as highlighted below. You should have one jumper wire connecting A to 5V, B to GND, C to A9, D to A5, and E to D48.

Step 6: Plug the power supply into the Farmduino

Connect the red 2-pin power supply connector to the Farmduino’s power input. The connector will only fit in one direction.

The power input connector is highlighted in orange

Step 7: Insert the supergland

Insert one half of the supergland into the slot in the bottom of the electronics box. The left-most hole in the supergland should be small (it is for the camera) while the right-most hole should be medium-sized (it is for the power supply).

Organize and position the cables into the supergland. From left to right, the cables should be: camera, UTM, motors, encoders, peripherals, power supply.

Once the cables are all inserted into the first supergland half, gently insert the second half of the supergland into the slot in the electronics box. Ensure that the flanges of both supergland halves are on either side of the electronics box wall.

Step 8: Install FarmBot OS onto the microSD card

Follow these instructions on the software documentation hub to install FarmBot OS onto the microSD card.

Step 9: Mount the power supply

Mount the power supply to your supporting infrastructure using four 25mm wood screws. The power supply is IP67 rated, so it can withstand rain and the elements.

Step 10: Plug in the power supply

Connect the waterproof screw-together 2-pin connector of the power supply cable into the power supply output.

Before plugging the power supply into an outlet or an extension cord, please read the precaution below.

If everything looks good, and you understand the precautions needed around powered electronics, go ahead and plug the power supply into a GFCI outlet.

If an appropriate outlet is not close enough to plug in directly, use an extension cord and the provided green outdoor electrical connection protector.

What’s next?

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