Arduino vs Raspberry PI
Which one to use when/why?
I'm a Multan, Pakistan based Mechanical Engineer. I push pixels, shuffle data, and slap my keyboard until everything works.
1. Overview
1.1 Arduino
Arduino is an open-source hardware and software company, project, and user community that designs and manufactures very low-powered single-board microcontrollers and microcontroller kits for building digital devices. It can easily be programmed with an Arduino IDE from a computer/laptop using C++ Programming Language.
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| Fig.1 - Arduino Uno |
1.2 Raspberry PI
Raspberry Pi is a series of small low powered single-board computers (SBCs) developed in the United Kingdom by the Raspberry Pi Foundation in association with Broadcom. It is a full-fledged computer with USB/HDMI/audio/browser, Operating System, and GPIO (General Purpose Input Output) Pins to connect sensors and other devices. As It has an OS, it can be programmed with any programming language.
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| Fig.2 - Raspberry PI 4B |
2. Comparison
2.1 Type
Arduino is a series of microcontrollers/development boards that can be programmed from another computer. Read data from sensors/switch and control motors/led etc.
Raspberry PI is a series of minicomputers for edge computing with a Linux operating system, Browser, Display, Keyboard, Mouse, with additional GPIO functionality where we can attach sensors to read data and actuators to control them.
2.2 Portability
Both controllers' main focus is on portability and edge computing. Arduino with Low power and Shields is highly portable but with low processing power and memory.
2.3 Power
Arduino requires very low power 5V from USB Port or 6-12V from Barrel Jack with the current in mA. It can run with a battery pack for days.
PI requires 5V 0.5-3A Current Range to power processor, USB, Display, and Ethernet Port
2.4 Processing
Arduinos has a processor of low-frequency 16MHz ATMega328P (Arduino Nano) for low-end processing
PI have multicore processors to run the browser, app, software like normal computers 1.5GHz quad-core ARMv8-A (PI 4)
2.5 Memory
Arduino has SRAM range from 2KB (Arduino Nano) - to 64MB (Arduino Portenta H7) Arduino has internal Flash Memory of 32KB - 128MB.
Raspberry PI has DRAM range from 512MB (PI Zero) - to 8GB (PI 4B) PI requires separate storage SD Card/USB for storing OS, Data, and code.
2.6 Applications
Arduino is used for simpler Applications Including
- I/O pins to Sense, Control, and Display on LCD.
- Real-Time Control
- Simple Web Server
- Simple Low-Resolution Camera/Image Processing
PI is used for More Software-based Applications Including
- GPIO pins to connect sensors, controllers, LCD displays.
- Web Server Control
- Camera/Image Processing
- GUI Application/Control
- Edge Networking
- AI and ML
2.7 Durability
The diode on Arduino Uno's Barrel Jack protects it from reverse voltage and the Voltage regulator regulates voltage to 5V. The internal EEPROM of Arduino has a lifetime of 100,000 write cycles. So Refrain from writing to EEPROM too much. It can function 24/7 for a long time and don't get heated up easily.
Running PI with Low Current/Voltage may damage the SD Card (can be replaced). PI gets hot easily, proper heat management can cool the processor.
2.8 Price (pkrs)
Arduino has a price range from 500 (Arduino Nano) - to 25K (Arduino Portenta H7)
Raspberry PI has a price range from 5K (PI Zero) - to 30K (PI 4B 8GB Model)
3. Using Arduino over Raspberry PI
Arduino is preferred over Pi when
Your application is very simple
The application includes using any sensor to control the actuator/display information on LCD Display.
Real time processing
Unlike PI handling hardware/Ports/OS, Arduino runs a single function compiled in a loop. It can be used when you have real-time constraints.
Analog/PWM Hardware pins
Analog inputs: Arduino can be used to read analog values from sensors 0-5V (0-1023)
PWM: Some Pins on Arduino can use PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) to control motors/devices and faster switching to create analog output signals.
4. Using Raspberry PI over Arduino
PI is preferred over Arduino when you have
A Complex application – Software Based
When you need high-end processing and memory or need a web server or display for GUI Application
Want to use other languages
PI has an OS which means you can install and program on any Language eg. Python, C++, Javascript, etc.
Multi-threading Task
Arduino runs on a single function running in a loop on a single processor. Due to Multi-Cores present on the PI with an OS, It can easily be programmed for multi threading.
