About
This document provides an overview of various embedded platforms/systems commonly used in the development of embedded applications in the industry. It covers a wide range of popular processors, microcontrollers, and development boards, highlighting their key features, performance, characteristics, and suitable use cases. By comparing different platforms such as Raspberry Pi, NVIDIA Jetson, ESP32, Arduino, and NXP i.MX Series, this document aims to assist in choosing the most appropriate solution based on their project requirements.
Embedded Platforms/Systems Overview
Raspberry Pi
A small low-cost computer the size of a credit card. A Raspberry Pi can be a desktop computer, robotics controller, server, game controller, etc. The Raspberry Pi is an excellent tool for many projects, from basic learning to advanced projects.
Pros
- Affordable
- Versatile operating system
- Very active community
- Easy to learn
- Flexible
- User Imagination
The Raspberry Pi stands out as a cost-effective solution. This makes it an excellent choice for hobbyists, educators, and professionals alike. Its versatility is its key strength, as it can be used for a wide range of applications. The Raspberry Pi community is also another major advantage. A wealth of resources, tutorials, and forums make troubleshooting straightforward.
Cons
- Limited power
- Limited processing power
- Limited RAM
- Limited Storage
Raspberry Pi comes with certain limitations. One of those is their limited power, which can restrict its ability to perform demanding tasks or multiple peripherals. Raspberry Pi also relies on external storage which offers slower speed and limited capacity. Although it is compatible with many open-source applications, some software may not be optimized or supported for the Raspberry Pi.
Applications
- Prototyping
- Automation
Models
- Raspberry Pi 5
- Raspberry Pi 500
- Raspberry Pi Pico
- Raspberry Pi Zero
Specifications
| Model | Raspberry Pi 5 | Raspberry Pi 500 | Raspberry Pi Pico | Raspberry Pi Zero |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | 2.4 GHz quad-core 64-bit ARM Cortex-A76 | 2.4 GHz quad-core 64-bit ARM Cortex-A76 | 133 MHz single-core ARM Cortex-M0+ | 1 GHz single-core ARM1176JZF-S (Zero 1), 1 GHz quad-core 64-bit ARM Cortex-A53 (Zero 2) |
| GPU | 800 MHz VideoCore VII | 800 MHz VideoCore VII | N/A | 250 MHz VideoCore IV |
| APU | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| RAM | 2/4/6/16GB LPDDR4x-4267 SDRAM | 2/4/6/16GB LPDDR4x-4267 SDRAM | 264kB SRAM | 512MB LPDDR2 SDRAM |
| Display | Up to Dual 4Kp60 micro HDMI with HDR support, 4Kp60 HEVC decoder | Up to Dual 4Kp60 micro HDMI with HDR support, 4Kp60 HEVC decoder | N/A | Up to 1080P mini HDMI |
| Ports | 2x USB 3.0, 2x USB 2.0, Gigabit Ethernet, PCIe Port | 2x USB 3.0, 2x USB 2.0, Gigabit Ethernet, PCIe Port | Micro-USB GPIO pins | Micro USB On-The-Go (OTG) |
| Storage options | eMMC, MicroSD Card | eMMC, MicroSD Card | Onboard 2MB flash memory | MicroSD Card |
| Network | Wi-Fi, BT 5.0, Gigabit Ethernet | Wi-Fi, BT 5.0, Gigabit Ethernet | N/A | Wi-Fi |
| Power | 5V/5A DC power via USB-C | 5V/5A DC power via USB-C | 5V via Micro-USB | 5V via Micro-USB |
| OS Support | Raspberry Pi OS, Ubuntu, Apertis, RISC OS, Ultramarine Linux, Alpine Linux, Other custom Linux distros (e.g. Yocto) | Raspberry Pi OS, Ubuntu, Apertis, RISC OS, Ultramarine Linux, Alpine Linux, Other custom Linux distros (e.g. Yocto) | MicroPython, CircuitPython | Raspberry Pi OS, RISC OS, Alpine Linux, Other custom Linux distros (e.g. Yocto) |
| Price Range | $50-$120 | $120-$150 | $4-$7 | $5-$15 |
| Documentation and Source Code | Documentation: Raspberry Pi Documentation,
Raspberry Pi Hardware Documentation Github: Raspberry Pi |
Documentation:Raspberry Pi Documentation,
Raspberry Pi Hardware Documentation Github: Raspberry Pi |
Documentation: Pico-series Microcontrollers - Raspberry Pi Documentation,
Github: Raspberry Pi Pico Examples |
Documentation: Raspberry Pi hardware - Raspberry Pi Documentation,
Github: dwelch67/raspberrypi-zero: Raspberry Pi Zero baremetal examples(for Zero 1), |
Why is Raspberry Pi Popular?
Raspberry Pi is popular because it is a small, affordable, single-board computer that is easy to use. It is also versatile for a wide range of applications and the community is very active. With its robust hardware capabilities, including support for multiple operating systems, it has become a favorite among professionals and hobby enthusiasts.
