Anders B. Nielsen has launched the open-source FalCAN Probe, a Linux-compatible STM32-based adapter combining CAN, RS-485, and RS-422 support with fully open hardware and firmware files for industrial communication and embedded development.
Anders B. Nielsen has introduced the open-source FalCAN Probe, an STM32-based USB adapter that combines CAN, RS-485, and full-duplex RS-422 connectivity into a single Linux-compatible platform.
Unlike fixed-function adapters such as CANTact Pro or Ollie V2, the FalCAN Probe supports multiple industrial communication protocols while also functioning as a compact Arm Cortex-M0 development board. Built around the STMicro STM32F042 microcontroller, the board exposes native USB, SWD, USART1, and GPIO interfaces for custom firmware development and debugging.
The project carries a strong open-source focus, with schematics, PCB layouts, Gerber files, and BOM data with LCSC part numbers released on GitHub under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence. The hardware was designed in KiCad 9, while the firmware is based on a fork of the open-source candleLight_fw project.
“What makes the FalCAN Probe different from similar tools like CANable or Candlelight adapters is its firmware,” said Nielsen.
The adapter supports native Linux gs_usb kernel modules, enabling operation with standard can-utils tools on Ubuntu and Raspberry Pi OS without requiring custom drivers. Nielsen added, “The FalCAN Probe firmware further adds support for RS-485 and RS-422 mode switching on top of the standard CAN capabilities, and the hardware itself exposes the STM32 development pins.”
Priced at 249 DKK (~US$36), the board is available through iMania.dk.
