Arduino vs Raspberry Pi
The Raspberry Pi and Arduino are two of the most well-liked boards on the market in today’s digital world.
Professionals, do-it-yourselfers, and hobbyists all regard these boards as their top pick. These days, both
gadgets rule the hobbyist electronics market. Both the Arduino and the Raspberry Pi are available in global
markets. An uninitiated observer may perceive them as being identical since they have connections coming
out of the sides and soldered capacitors, resistors, and ICUs in the board’s circuit. On closer inspection,
though, it becomes clear that the Raspberry Pi and Arduino are not quite the same in terms of goal or
architecture. These two boards are very dissimilar. Examine the Raspberry Pi free course here.
Arduino is considered a very good board for quick programming and circuit prototyping. On the other hand,
Raspberry Pi functions as a learning tool for Computer Programming. However, Raspberry is found useful
in many DIY projects as well. Each board has its own merits and demerits depending on its use and the
purpose they serve.
In addition to taking a free online course on Arduino vs. Raspberry Pi, which will assist you in selecting
the device that best meets your needs, this post aims to provide you with the most knowledge possible on
the subject. One additional point I want to stress is that Raspberry Pi is a board based on a microprocessor,
whereas Arduino is based on a microcontroller. Therefore, it is important to comprehend what a
microcontroller and a microprocessor are before delving more into the analysis of these two boards. So that
it would be easier for us to grasp these boards in the future when we learn more about the differences
between the Raspberry Pi and Arduino. So let’s begin by discussing a microprocessor and microcontroller.
What is Arduino?
In Ivrea, Italy, Massimo Banzi et al., an interaction designer, educator, and supporter of open-source
hardware, co-founded the Arduino project and developed Arduino.
In 2005, the Arduino project was launched. The Interaction Design Institute in Ivrea, Italy, students were
to use it as a tool. The second goal was to give experts and novices alike a simple, affordable method for
building devices that use sensors and actuators to communicate with their surroundings.
Arduino is known for its simple electronics prototyping tool, which has open-source hardware and
software. Arduino is a type of Microcontroller development board that is used for many purposes, like
accepting inputs from Buttons, Blink LEDs, reading data from Sensors, controlling Motors, and many
other tasks that are related to “Microcontroller.”
The most popular Arduino Uno is one of the most common Arduino boards available in the market. It is
an open-source microcontroller board that is based on ATmega328P Microcontroller and developed by
Arduino.cc. Here open-source means that the design files and the source code for software and libraries
are freely available, so anyone interested in programming can make use of these free of cost as a
reference for making their own Arduino board.
Input/output (I/O) pins on the board are both digital and analog, and they can be interfaced with different
expansion boards (shields) and other circuits.
The device’s popularity is increased by its user-friendly features, which include an onboard LED, large
2.54mm pitched sockets for connecting to external devices, built-in power handling (including an external
DC power jack), and a huge USB B connector for connecting to a PC.
Now let’s discuss the software part of Arduino. All Arduino boards are programmable in C and C++
programming languages, and for this, special software is used which is called Arduino IDE. The Arduino
IDE includes all the toolchains that are required for editing source code and compiling and programming
the Microcontroller on the Arduino board.
The process of developing applications using these microcontrollers is very lengthy, but if you are an
experienced microcontroller (8051, Atmel, or PIC Microcontrollers) user, then you can probably
understand it. If you are not familiar with this, let’s go through the process briefly.
The first action is to write the application software, the main source code, in a dedicated IDE, like Keil,
Atmel Studio, or PIC’s MPLAB IDE. Then, compile the code and generate a .hex file which is a form of
the binary file.
With its plug-and-play style of quick programming, Arduino simplified this process. Using the
Arduino IDE software, activities like code writing, compiling, and then uploading it to the
microcontroller can all be performed. There is no need for separate hardware for program
uploading. Simply connect the Arduino board to a computer through the USB Port and then
press the upload button, and the Arduino board microcontroller is ready to do its tasks.
What is Raspberry Pi?
The Raspberry Pi was invented at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom by Eben Christopher Upton, the Welsh CEO of Raspberry Pi (Trading) Ltd. The device was first introduced in 2012. Since then, it has been released in a number of incarnations.
A popular brand for a line of single-board computers created by the UK nonprofit Raspberry Pi Foundation is Raspberry Pi. Its creation aims to teach people about computers and make computing education more accessible globally.
One important point to be noted is that Arduino is a Microcontroller based development board, whereas Raspberry Pi is a Microprocessor (usually an ARM Cortex-A Series) based board that works as a computer.
Raspberry Pi includes many of the same ports as a desktop computer, so it may be linked to a variety of peripherals such a keyboard and mouse via USB, a monitor via HDMI or AV port, a camera via the specialized camera interface, and the internet via Ethernet or Wi-Fi.
The Raspberry Pi and other such boards are referred to as Single Board Computers, or SBCs for short, since all of the parts of a computer, including the processor, RAM, storage, graphics, connectors, and other internal components, are constructed on a single printed circuit board.
The Raspberry Pi can run an operating system because it is effectively a complete computer. The Raspberry Pi Foundation is in charge of designing and developing the Raspberry Pi SBC. It also offers the Raspberry Pi OS, formerly known as the Raspbian OS, a Linux distribution based on Debian..
The Raspberry Pi runs on Linux operating systems, which means that software may be produced in a variety of programming languages, including C, C++, Python, Java, HTML, and others. This is another crucial fact about the device.
Although its original goal was to encourage the use of programming languages in schools, such as Python and Scratch, it also became well-liked by enthusiasts, do-it-yourself builders, and hobbyists for creating a variety of applications, such as weather stations, robotics, and camera-based security.
Arduino vs Raspberry Pi: What’s the difference?
- Technical Specification: Let us have a glance at the technical specifications of the latest available versions of both boards. You will find that they are very different from one another.
Arduino UNO Rev3
∙ Clock 16 Mhz
∙ Memory 32kb Flash Memory and 2 kb SDRAM
∙ GPIO pins 14
∙ Operating Voltage 5V
Raspberry Pi 4 Model B
∙ Clock 1.5 GHz
∙ Memory 4 GB eMMC
∙ eMMC – Embedded MultiMediaCard (eMMC) is an internal data storage card that is built using flash storage.
∙ GPIO pins 40
∙ Operating Voltage 5V
The clock speed of these two boards is the first thing that comes to mind after viewing the technical specs above. If we examine closely, we can see that the Raspberry Pi is 100 times faster than the Arduino in terms of speed.
Likewise, if you go more in detail, you can find out other areas too, wherein these two boards share discrepancies between them, like memory, operating voltage, GPIO pi Despite Raspberry Pi having the upper hand over Arduino in technical specifications of the key areas, is it not a wonder why Arduino is so popular as Raspberry Pi? What can be the possible reasons? To know the answer, let’s start exploring the reasons., connectors, connectivity, etc.
Working Principle
Arduino
Every Arduino is a particular kind of black integrated circuit unit known as a microcontroller, as was previously described. Whether it is a more contemporary SMD (surface-mounted device) package or an older 28-pin DIP (dual-inline-pin) packaging makes no difference. This tiny device has all the components needed for computing activities, including memory, an I/O port enabling the MCU to connect to an external digital medium, a CPU, and a timer. The rest of the board, including the Arduino software, is there to assist in interacting with the microcontroller, which is the primary component on the board that carries out the primary functions of the Arduino.
Raspberry Pi
The Raspberry Pi operates significantly differently from the Arduino; in fact, it functions very much like a desktop computer. The Broadcom CPU on a chip (SoC) that powers the Raspberry Pi includes an on-chip graphics processing unit (GPU) and central processing unit (CPU) that are compatible with ARM. Its central component, the Broadcom CPU, is linked to the board’s external storage, ports, and RAM. The American firm Broadcom Inc., which has its headquarters in San Jose, California, produces the Broadcom CPU. It is a global supplier of infrastructure software and various semiconductor goods, as well as a designer, developer, maker, and manufacturer of semiconductor products.
The purpose of the Broadcom CPU is to run an operating system, which controls the HDMI, USB, and RJ45 connections, executes applications, and presents a graphical user interface to the user.
The Raspberry Pi’s architecture allows it to perform tasks that Arduino’s microcontroller is unable to. However, there are other uses for which this kind of fully functional computer is not required. Consider the electronics found in a computer keyboard. Its functions include keeping an eye on activity on a group of switches and reporting keystroke occurrences to
your computer. In the same way, a number of inexpensive, effective microcontroller controlled gadgets are present around the house.
- Operating System
Arduino
Arduino boards are microcontroller boards rather than full-fledged computers, in contrast to the Raspberry Pi. Although Arduino doesn’t have a full operating system, it can execute written code that is decoded by firmware. Firmware is a special form of computer software that permits low-level control for a device’s particular hardware, according to the computing community. Arduino boards employ a unique kind of firmware called a bootloader. The Arduino has about 2KB of flash storage set aside for it. It does not operate the software in the same manner as the Raspberry Pi because it is not a full computer. It functions differently. Using the open-source Arduino Software (IDE), which is used to develop code and then upload it to the board, it boots the system and executes the instructions given. It is compatible with operating systems like Windows, Mac, and Linux-based devices like the Raspberry Pi.
It demonstrates that the real programming is carried out on a different machine, taking the cost into account.
Raspberry Pi
Raspberry Pi runs an operating system called Raspbian, which is a standard and specialized version of Linux. Raspbian is specially optimized for Pi to take out the best output from the architecture of the board and deliver the slickest possible user experience. With that said, nothing prevents ingenious Pi owners from installing completely other operating systems onto their unit.
There are plenty to choose from, including Ubuntu, OSMC, and RetroPie; each Raspberry Pi unit is only a fresh distro (a Linux distribution) away from becoming a games console or a media center.
- Data Processing Unit
One of the primary distinctions between these two boards is that Raspberry Pi is a microprocessor based small computer (SBC) that can do Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) functions, whereas Arduino is a microcontroller board, or a physical programmable circuit board. The Microcontroller unit of the Arduino board houses the CPU, RAM, and ROM. The Arduino Board’s extra hardware is all used for the power supply, IO connectivity, and programming. The Raspberry Pi SBC board, on the other hand, has every component of a computer, including a processor, memory, storage, graphics driver, and ports.
Because Raspberry Pi has a microprocessor, memory, and GPU, it is more complicated and requires an operating system to function. It requires an OS to run all of its functions because it is similar to a full-fledged computer. The Raspberry Pi Foundation favors Linux. However, since Arduino is a microcontroller-based board and microcontrollers don’t have as much processing power or resource as most single-board computers, Arduino doesn’t require an operating system. To complete the task, all you need is a binary of the compiled source code. To put it another way, all the microcontroller requires is a firmware that tells it what to do.
5.Costs
When it comes to the cost, the two devices are comparable. As per the available data, the cost of Raspberry Pi boards ranges between $35 to $75, and this cost variation entirely depends upon the type of models being purchased. The RAM capacity plays an important role in the cost factor; cost increases with the increase in the RAM capacity of the models. However, the smallest Raspberry Pi, the Raspberry Pi Zero, costs only $5.
Relatively the cost of Arduino boards also ranges somewhere near to Raspberry Pi boards meaning $18 to $65, and this depends upon the type of model purchased. For example, the Arduino UNO may cost around $20. Though the cost of both the boards is almost comparable, then also, you may find slight differences on different purchasing sites.
The investment cost, particularly in the case of Arduino, sometimes is not in your hand. It depends on your ambition, which means, at some point, according to the requirements, it becomes necessary for you to purchase certain things, like a stackable shield or two or a collection of resistors, sensors, patch cables, and IC units. This raises its cost.
Moreover, once you have finished one project and started expecting another one, it might be possible that you’ll probably order more and more components, along with the tiny little drawers in which to conveniently store them. In addition to this, the cost of a device capable of hosting the Arduino IDE is also included. All these factors influence the cost of the board.
6.Uses
While Arduino is thought to be good for integrating sensors and controlling LEDs and motors, Raspberry Pi works remarkably well for developing software applications when it comes to Python. However, this does not exclude the Raspberry Pi from serving the same function. Its 40-pin GPIO can be used to control hardware, which is another way this can be used to promote programming learning. General-purpose input/output is known as GPIO. It can also be described as an integrated circuit’s
digital signal pin that is assembled for input and output and is managed by software. GPIO pins can be used to link various electronic components, such as buttons, LEDs, motors, sensors, etc., to the board. Some dedicated features or functionality, like a Motor Driver, Touchscreens, Ethernet Connection, SD Card Reader, Cameras, Wi-Fi, etc., can be added to Arduino boards by using Arduino Shields. These Arduino Shields are plugged into the Arduino Pin headers.
While Raspberry Pi is a self-contained board, it facilitates the addition of external hardware like Touchscreen, GPS, RGB panels, etc. The Raspberry Pi Hardware that is inspired by Arduino Shields and is attached on Top or HAT Expansion Boards can be used to add additional functionality to Raspberry Pi. They are normally connected to the GPIO Pins.
Which to decide between Raspberry Pi and Arduino?
You need to be very clear about your project and what you want to accomplish before choosing between these two boards. We now know the purposes that these two boards can fulfill.
Arduino is mainly used for doing repetitive tasks such as controlling the motor as required, opening the main gate, switching the lights on and off, controlling the water overhead tank, reading from temperature sensors, and likewise many other tasks.
The Raspberry Pi is thought to be the greatest device for handling a variety of activities, such as controlling complex robots, playing video games, connecting to the internet, using interface cameras, etc. Do you want to know how to use a Raspberry Pi? Check out our courses for the Raspberry Pi! Our courses make it simple to get started utilizing this potent tiny device by providing step-by-step guidance. For example, there is a need to develop an application where monitoring humidity and temperature readings from DTH11 sensors and displaying the results on an LCD screen is possible. Here, you can think about the Arduino board, which is the best option to complete this project.
However, Raspberry Pi is a better option than Arduino if additional functionality is needed for this project, such as the ability to monitor humidity and temperature readings from a DHT11 Sensor and display the results on an LCD. It also needs to send an email with the results, compare the online readings with the weather report, and display the final results on an LCD. In simple words, Arduino is used for beginner’s projects and where quick electronics prototyping is required, whereas Raspberry Pi is mainly used in some complicated projects wherein multitasking is considered an essential element.
Conclusion
Between the Raspberry Pi and Arduino, there are a few noteworthy variations that are both minor and important. Both boards have many advantages and disadvantages, but when utilized properly, they perform incredibly well. However, in a situation like this, where both are utilized to optimize the project’s output, these distinctions are irrelevant.
In terms of working, the Arduino board can be compared with the spinal cord of the body, which means to say that the Arduino is used to make small-scale decisions such as lighting an LED or taking the temperature of a liquid, or displaying results on an LCD. In contrast, the Raspberry Pi board is considered the brain. It is truly invented for making complex decisions, such as the prediction of future values based on analysis of the past values, controlling robots, etc. Based on the article, we can conclude that Arduino is an ideal board for a beginner who has a desire to learn electronics and for someone who has some basic knowledge about electronics and is interested in taking up some simple electronics-based projects. Raspberry Pi is perfect for one who knows Linux and wants to develop Linux-based complex networking electronic projects.
At last, we can say that you have been provided with enough knowledge and information by us about Arduino vs Raspberry Pi. Now, we can believe that you can choose the right board according to your requirements.