Arduino vs Raspberry Pi - Which is Best?
In the world of DIY electronics and prototyping, two popular platforms have emerged as favorites among enthusiasts: Arduino and Raspberry Pi.
These little yet powerful gadgets have transformed the way people experiment with technology, allowing them to easily build unique ideas. But which one is the best fit for your requirements?
In this blog, we'll compare the features, programming languages, applications, and other aspects of Arduino vs Raspberry Pi. By the end, you'll have a better idea of which platform is best for your individual needs.
All you should know about Arduino
Arduino: The Master of Simplicity
source: youtube
Arduino, known for its simplicity and ease of use, is a microcontroller-based platform that focuses on physical computing.
It is designed to control electronic circuits and interact with the physical world using sensors, actuators, and other components.
The Arduino board is perfect for novices and amateurs since it has a microcontroller chip, input/output connections, and a number of built-in functionality.
Arduino Board Features
The Arduino board comes in various models, but they all share common features. These include digital and analog input/output pins, which allow you to connect sensors, buttons, LEDs, and other electronic components.
Additionally, Arduino boards have a USB interface for programming and communication purposes.
This simplicity and versatility make Arduino boards perfect for quick prototyping and experimentation.
Arduino Programming Language
When it comes to programming, Arduino utilizes its own language, which is based on C/C++.
The language is beginner-friendly, featuring a simplified syntax and a vast library of functions that abstract complex operations.
With Arduino's programming language, you can easily control the behavior of your microcontroller, read sensor data, and interact with other hardware components.
Arduino Shields
One of Arduino's key benefits is its interoperability with a large selection of shields.
Shields are extension boards for the Arduino platform that bring new features and capabilities.
Whether you need wireless communication, motor control, or an LCD display, there is almost certainly a shield available to meet your needs.
Because of its adaptability, Arduino is a fantastic choice for a wide range of applications.
Arduino Projects and Community
Arduino has a large community of makers, innovators, and consumers. Countless projects have been made utilising Arduino boards, ranging from basic LED blinking tests to large robotic systems.
The open-source nature of Arduino encourages cooperation, information sharing, and the availability of large libraries and tutorials.
Because of this supporting community, Arduino is an excellent platform for learning and exploring the world of electronics.
Pros Of using Arduino
- Power Efficiency: If portability is a crucial factor for your application, Arduino is a suitable choice. Arduino boards are designed to be power-efficient, making them ideal for battery-operated solutions.
- Portability: Arduino's self-contained features enable it to offer a compact and portable solution for your projects.
- Cost: Arduino boards are relatively affordable, with prices starting from $20 AUD per board. Additionally, you will need a USB cable and a computer for programming.
- Expandability: Arduino boasts a vast range of shields and electronic components, allowing for virtually limitless expansion possibilities. You can customize and enhance your Arduino projects to meet your specific needs.
- Programming Languages: Arduino supports its own programming language, which is based on C++ and assembly. Additionally, there are graphical programming options available such as mBlock, Scratch, and CodeCraft, making it accessible for non-programmers and beginners.
- Ecosystem and Toolchain: Arduino's longevity in the market has cultivated a large and active community. This community, along with the extensive ecosystem of modules and components, contributes to a supportive environment for learning and experimentation. Arduino also offers a user-friendly set of tools for development.
All You Should Know About Raspberry
Raspberry Pi: The Versatile Minicomputer
source: youtube
While Arduino focuses on physical computing, Raspberry Pi offers a full-fledged minicomputer on a single board.
Raspberry Pi has a processor, memory, storage, and multiple input/output choices, making it useful for a variety of projects such as home automation, media centres, and even AI applications.
Raspberry Pi GPIO Pins
One of the standout features of Raspberry Pi is its General Purpose Input/Output (GPIO) pins.
These pins allow you to connect external devices and modules directly to the board. With GPIO, you can interface with sensors, control motors, and even build custom circuits.
This flexibility and expandability make Raspberry Pi a versatile platform for advanced projects.
Raspberry Pi Operating System
Unlike Arduino, which can only run one sketch at a time, the Raspberry Pi can run an entire operating system.
This feature allows you to harness the power of Linux and utilise it for a variety of reasons.
Installing popular operating systems such as Raspbian or Ubuntu allows you to transform your Raspberry Pi into a web server, media player, or even a desktop computer.
The Raspberry Pi's capacity to run many programmes at the same time is a huge benefit.
Raspberry Pi Accessories
Similar to Arduino shields, Raspberry Pi offers a wide array of accessories and expansion boards.
These accessories include camera modules, displays, motor controllers, and more. The availability of various accessories allows you to extend the functionality of your Raspberry Pi and customize it to suit your specific project requirements.
Raspberry Pi Projects and Applications
Raspberry Pi has found applications in diverse fields, including home automation, robotics, Internet of Things (IoT), and education.
Raspberry Pi, with its robust hardware and software capabilities, can handle difficult tasks and act as the brain of advanced projects.
It can help you build a smart home system, a weather station, or a security camera.
Pros of Using Raspberry PI
- Video Capture: If your project requires video capture and processing, the Raspberry Pi family is an ideal choice due to its higher CPU power and processing capabilities. Additionally, Raspberry Pi boards come equipped with standard display ports like HDMI, making them suitable for connecting to monitors or TVs.
- High-Level Programming Languages: Raspberry Pi, running on a Linux operating system, supports a wide range of high-level programming languages such as Java, HTML, C++, and more. This flexibility allows developers to work with their preferred programming languages when working on Raspberry Pi projects.
- Display Options: If you need to display content on a standard monitor or TV, Raspberry Pi is the most suitable option. Arduino lacks Human Interface Device (HID) support, which means it is not plug-and-play compatible with TVs or monitors. However, Arduino does offer alternatives like 7-segment displays, TFT displays, capacitive touch displays, and e-ink displays for other display needs.
- HID Support: Raspberry Pi supports standard peripherals like hard drives, USB devices, HDMI, mice, keyboards, and webcams out of the box, making them plug-and-play compatible.
- Low-Cost Computer: Raspberry Pi serves as an excellent low-cost alternative to a computer or laptop, particularly in educational settings. It can be utilized for various applications, including creating personal media centers, music stations, arcade game emulators, weather stations, servers, and much more.
Arduino IDE vs. Raspberry Pi Software
The Integrated Development Environment (IDE) provided by Arduino is a simple yet powerful software tool for developing and uploading code to Arduino boards.
The Arduino IDE is designed for beginners and includes several features like code highlighting, automated error checking, and serial connection monitoring.
Raspberry Pi, on the other hand, uses general-purpose programming languages such as Python, C, or Java, which provide a broader variety of software development alternatives.
Choosing Between Arduino and Raspberry Pi
Arduino | Raspberry Pi |
Arduino is a microcontroller. | Raspberry Pi is a microprocessor-based mini-computer. |
It has an 8-bit CPU architecture. | It has a 64-bit CPU architecture.
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It’s from the Atmega family. | It’s from the ARM family. |
Arduino doesn’t have an operating system and instead requires firmware for control. | Raspberry Pi has an operating system (the Raspbian OS). And you can use Linux or Android for control too. |
You can use Arduino Shields to add additional functionalities. | You can use the GPIO pins of Raspberry Pi to extend its functionalities. |
Arduino can’t be used with Bluetooth features. | Raspberry Pi supports Bluetooth. |
Arduino is limited to simple applications that don’t need an internet connection — something preferably with sensors, motors and LEDs. But you can add shields to connect Arduino to the internet. | Raspberry Pi has an internet connection and can therefore be used to develop complex applications with Python. |
Arduino is best suited for repetition tasks programmed to do a certain set of functions. | Raspberry Pi is known for its capabilities to do multiple sets of operations and can be used for a series of tasks, happening one after the other. |
Arduino is simple enough that you can unplug it anytime and the code will resume once it’s plugged in again. It won’t cause any corruption or errors if you do so. | Raspberry functions as a computer and so, you need to properly shut it down after each use. Else, it may cause errors. |
Some of the common applications you can build with Arduino are traffic light control, garage door open and close, timer-based projects, etc. | Some of the common applications you can build with Raspberry Pi are detection and LCD display projects, AI assistance, distance sensing robot, WiFi extender, etc. |