Adafruit
Adafruit EdgeBadge - TensorFlow Lite for Microcontrollers
The Adafruit EdgeBadge is a compact, credit-card-sized development board built for experimenting with TensorFlow Lite for Microcontrollers. Based on the popu...
The Adafruit EdgeBadge is a compact, credit-card-sized development board built for experimenting with TensorFlow Lite for Microcontrollers. Based on the popular PyBadge platform with an added PDM microphone, it provides everything you need to get started with on-device machine learning — from speech recognition to sensor-based inference.
Powered by the ATSAMD51J19 running at 120 MHz with 512 KB flash and 192 KB RAM, plus 2 MB of QSPI flash for storing TensorFlow Lite models, images, and other assets. The built-in microphone enables micro speech recognition demos out of the box, with Arduino library examples for recognising word pairs like "yes/no" and "up/down".
Key Features
- ATSAMD51J19 @ 120 MHz – 32-bit Cortex-M4F with 512 KB flash and 192 KB RAM
- 2 MB QSPI Flash – Storage for TensorFlow Lite models, images, sounds, and fonts
- PDM Microphone – Front-mounted digital microphone for speech recognition and audio input
- 1.8" Colour TFT Display – 160×128 pixel screen on a dedicated SPI port
- 8 Game/Control Buttons – With silicone button caps for comfortable input
- 5× NeoPixels – Addressable RGB LEDs for visual feedback
- Triple-Axis Accelerometer – Built-in motion sensing for gesture-based ML models
- Light Sensor – Forward-facing ambient light sensor
- Built-in Buzzer – Onboard mini speaker for audio feedback
- Mono Class-D Speaker Driver – Drives 4–8 Ω speakers up to 2 W
- LiPo Battery Port – JST connector with built-in charging
- Feather-Compatible Headers – Two female header strips for plugging in FeatherWings
- JST Ports – Connectors for NeoPixels, sensor input, and I2C
Also Available
- Adafruit PyBadge (same platform without the microphone)
- Adafruit PyBadge LC (low-cost version)
Ideal For
- TensorFlow Lite for Microcontrollers experimentation
- On-device speech recognition and audio ML models
- MakeCode Arcade and CircuitPython game development
- Wearable conference badges with interactive features
Package Contents
- 1× Adafruit EdgeBadge (fully assembled)
Jargon buster
Plain-language definitions for the technical terms used above.
- Ambient light sensor
- A sensor that measures the general brightness of light falling on it, similar to how a device can adjust screen brightness automatically. It matters when you want a project to react to room lighting, daylight, shadows, or covered/uncovered conditions.
- CircuitPython
- A beginner-friendly version of Python designed to run directly on microcontroller boards. If a product supports CircuitPython, you can often program it by copying code files onto the board rather than setting up a more complex toolchain.
- Feather-compatible
- Feather-compatible means the board follows the Adafruit Feather size and pin layout used by many add-on boards and enclosures. It matters because it helps you choose accessories that will physically fit and connect to the same pins.
- Headers
- Rows of metal pins used to plug a module into a breadboard or connect it with jumper wires. Pre-soldered headers make the module easier to use straight away without needing to solder the pins yourself.
- I2C
- I2C is a two-wire communication bus used by many sensors and small modules. It matters because several I2C devices can share the same two wires, but each device needs a compatible address and your controller must support I2C.
- LiPo
- A lithium polymer rechargeable battery commonly used in portable electronics projects. It matters because LiPo batteries need correct charging circuitry and care, and this board includes hardware intended for that battery type.
- RAM
- RAM is temporary memory used while a device is running, and its contents are lost when power is removed. A “Run in RAM” mode is useful for testing settings without permanently programming the module, but it may not support every feature.
- RGB
- Short for red, green and blue, usually referring to an LED that can mix those three colours. It matters because controlling an RGB LED teaches how separate outputs combine to create different colours.
- SPI
- A fast serial communication bus often used for displays, memory cards, and sensors. It matters because SPI devices need specific pins for clock and data, plus a separate chip-select line for each device.
- TFT
- A thin-film transistor display is a common type of colour LCD used for graphics screens. Knowing a product is for TFTs helps you check that the driver board matches the display’s connector, resolution, backlight, and signalling method.
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Brands
Microcontrollers
Related Tutorials
Free guides on learn.littlebird.com.au
