Do you think IIT Guwahati certified course can help you in your career?
Introduction
Arduino and Raspberry Pi were significant players in the development of IoT devices. Both platforms can connect to the internet and communicate with other devices, making them ideal for IoT projects.
Let’s see the difference between Arduino and Raspberry Pi!
What is Arduino?
Arduino is a microcontroller board designed for electronics projects. It was invented in 2005 by Massimo Banzi, an Italian engineer. It was designed to provide an affordable and easy-to-use platform for hobbyists, makers, and professionals to create interactive projects.
Arduino boards contain a microcontroller, digital and analog input/output pins, and a programming environment. The microcontroller is pre-programmed with a bootloader that allows it to be programmed using a computer via a USB cable. The programming language used is a simplified version of C++ that is easy to learn and use.
Key Features
Arduino boards typically run at 16 MHz, although some boards have a faster clock speed.
The microcontroller used in Arduino boards is usually an Atmel AVR or SAM3X8E ARM Cortex-M3 microcontroller.
Arduino boards operate at various voltages, depending on the specific board. Some boards operate at 5 volts, while others work at 3.3 volts.
Arduino boards come with limited memory for storing programs and data.
Arduino boards can be extended with additional hardware modules called shields. These shields can add functionality to the board, such as Ethernet connectivity, wireless communication, or motor control.
What is Raspberry Pi?
Raspberry Pi is a single-board computer (SBC) powered by the Linux operating system. Unlike microcontrollers, Raspberry Pi has a full-fledged operating system, a powerful system-on-chip (SoC), and a GPU, making it more suitable for applications that require complex processing and multimedia capabilities.
Raspberry Pi can be programmed using various programming languages such as C, Python, and Java and can be used for a variety of applications, including home automation, robotics, and multimedia. Raspberry Pi can run Linux-based operating systems such as Raspbian, a version of Debian optimized for the Pi.
Key Features
Raspberry Pi uses a Broadcom system-on-a-chip (SoC) with a 64-bit quad-core ARM Cortex-A72 CPU, providing excellent processing power for various applications.
It has a microSD card slot for storing the operating system and data. It can also be connected to external hard drives or other storage devices for additional capacity.
It has a set of general-purpose input/output (GPIO) pins, which can be used to interface with external sensors, actuators, and other electronic components.
It comes with varying amounts of RAM, ranging from 1GB to 8GB, depending on the specific model.
It has built-in WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity, allowing it to connect to other devices and networks without additional hardware.
Let’s see the difference between Arduino and Raspberry Pi:
Parameter
Arduino
Raspberry Pi
Purpose
Arduino is a microcontroller platform designed for controlling electronics and creating interactive projects.
Raspberry Pi is a single-board computer(SBC) designed for general-purpose computing.
Clock Frequency
16 MHz and above
Up to 1.5 GHz
RAM
2kB- 8kB
1GB - 8GB
CPU Architecture
8-bit (Arduino UNO)
64-bit quad-core ARM Cortex-A72 processor
(Pi 4)
Logic Level
Around 5V (Arduino UNO)
Around 3V
Cost
Cheaper
Expensive than Arudino
Power Consumption
It consumes about 200 MW of power.
It consumes about 700 MW of power.
Applications
Weighing machines, home automation, embedded systems
Home automation, desktop pc, gaming servers
Advantages and Disadvantages of Arduino
Advantages
Easy to use: Arduino is designed to be easy to use, even for beginners. The platform has a simple and intuitive programming language based on C++ and a user-friendly development environment.
Open-source: Arduino is an open-source platform, which means that the hardware and software are freely available for anyone to use and modify.
Expandable: Arduino is expandable, which can be easily extended with additional hardware modules called shields.
Platform-independent: Arduino is platform-independent, which means it can be used with various operating systems, including Windows, Mac OS, and Linux.
Low power consumption: Arduino is designed to consume meagre power, which makes it ideal for battery-powered projects.
Disadvantages
Limited processing power: Arduino boards have limited processing power, which can limit their ability to handle complex tasks or large amounts of data.
Limited memory: Arduino boards have limited memory for storing programs and data, making it difficult to build projects requiring a lot of storage.
Limited graphics capabilities: Arduino boards are not designed for graphics-intensive applications, so building projects that require high-resolution graphics can be challenging.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Raspberry Pi
Advantages
Low cost: Raspberry Pi is a low-cost computer affordable for most people.
Easy to use: It has a user-friendly operating system and a range of pre-installed software applications that make it easy to start.
Powerful: Its quad-core processor and ample memory make it a reliable platform for many applications.
Connectivity: It has built-in WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity, making connecting to other devices and networks easy.
Versatile: Its GPIO pins allow it to interface with various electronic components, making it a powerful platform for building custom hardware.
Disadvantages
Limited RAM: Raspberry Pi’s RAM is limited compared to high-end desktops or servers, which may limit its ability to run multiple applications simultaneously or handle large data sets.
Limited graphics capabilities: Raspberry Pi’s graphics capabilities are limited compared to high-end desktops or servers, which may limit its ability to run graphically-intensive applications or games.
Limited network bandwidth: Raspberry Pi’s network bandwidth is limited compared to high-end desktops or servers, which may limit its ability to handle large amounts of network traffic or high-quality stream video.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which language is used in Arduino?
Arduino uses a C and C++ base programming language. This language is specifically made for its hardware and libraries. This language simplifies the programming for microcontrollers for beginners as well as experienced developers.
Which microcontroller is used in Raspberry Pi?
Raspberry Pi uses an ARM-based microprocessor called as System on Chip (Soc). This microcontroller is manufactured by the Broadcom corporation.
Which is easier to use, Raspberry Pi or Arduino?
Raspberry Pi is a system with Linux-based operating system that is used for large projects with complex computations. On the other hand an Arduino is mainly focused on hardware which makes it easier for beginners to use.
Which is better for robotics, Arduino or Raspberry Pi?
The choice between using Arduino and Raspberry Pi solely depends on the use case scenario. While Arduino is better in performing real-time data collection from sensors, Raspberry Pi offers better computational power and more diverse functionality,
Can Arduino and Raspberry Pi be used together?
Arduino and Raspberry Pi can be used together to create projects. Using both Arduino and Raspberry Pi helps the user to simultaneously leverage the real-time control of Arduino and the computational power of Raspberry Pi.
What programming languages can be used with Arduino?
Arduino can support many programming languages like Python, java etc. However, the primary language used in Arduino is a C/C++-based language. This language is specially modified for development in Arduino.
Conclusion
In this article, we discussed the difference between Arduino and Raspberry Pi. We also learned about their basic structure and features. Arduino is ideal for real-time control and experimentation, while Raspberry Pi is better suited for multimedia, networking, and more complex applications. The choice depends on the project requirements and the user's skill level.
For more information on these topics, you can visit our other blogs:
88+ registered 