In
the modern world, almost everyone who is into embedded programming with
electronics have either an Arduino Uno or a Raspberry Pi. Many people
believe that both of them do the same thing and that it is only the
price that sets them apart.
It is only when we look into the details that we can find some differences between the two. Let's get straight into it.
Under the hood
Let's look at some of the specs of the Arduino Uno and the Raspberry Pi B+ as they are the most common once used.
Except
that the Raspberry Pi does not have analog pins. It looks as if
Raspberry Pi has already won. But there are some differences that make
the Arduino a good competitor. Read on to find out !
The Basic Differences
The
Arduino is a micro controller which means that when it boots up, it
just runs the code that is assigned to it, it has no Operating System.
It is a part of a computer. But the Raspberry Pi is a full fledged
computer. This may seem advantageous to the Pi in all ways, but it is
not so.
Since the Raspberry Pi is a full
fledged computer which runs on Linux distributions, it gives you more
power and flexibility. But most advantages come with a disadvantage. In
this case the disadvantage is complexity.
Since
the Arduino has no Operating System, it runs the code assigned to it
with no background processes to handle thus it is better in terms of
reading real time input from sensors , etc.. But the Raspberry Pi might
take a while as it runs on an OS and needs to process that extra bit more.
One major difference is that in order to program or use a Raspberry Pi you WILL need an SD card with the required OS , keyboard, mouse and and a HD display compatible with HDMI ports The Arduino requires a serial cable and a computer running Windows XP or later .
Apart from these major differences, there are some other minor differences as well.
Input/ Output Pins
The Raspberry Pi has a " 3.3 V " Logic where as an Arduino has a "5V" one.
This can be good or bad as some components have a 5V output where as some have 3.3 V.
The
Arduino having a 5V logic can handle 3.3V as well as 5V.But this is not true vice versa.
Do note that the Raspberry Pi does not have a good history on handling a 5V output for even a second ! That does put down the Raspberry Pi quiet a bit considering MOST DIY elements these days are powered by 5V.
Do note that the Raspberry Pi does not have a good history on handling a 5V output for even a second ! That does put down the Raspberry Pi quiet a bit considering MOST DIY elements these days are powered by 5V.
DC Input
The
Arduino and the Raspberry Pi can run on the usual 5V DC input (a.k.a
from a USB phone charger.) The Raspberry Pi cannot handle anything above
5V. The Arduino Uno on the other hand is can handle anything from 5V to
20 V as it has an on board regulator.
Unlike
Arduino the Raspberry Pi as a computer needs a steady supply of very
good quality of 5V. If not there would be some lockups and problems.
Also, the Arduino can run straight of a 9 V battery as it saves the code from the previous session.
Analog Pins
Unlike
the Raspberry Pi, the Arduino can directly read analog voltage as it
already has an ADC( analog to digtal converter) on board which the
Raspberry Pi does not have.
This does mean that you have to take that extra step on converting it in the Raspberry Pi which might cause some hiccups during the process .
This does mean that you have to take that extra step on converting it in the Raspberry Pi which might cause some hiccups during the process .
Audio/Video
The
Raspberry PI is capable of playing back video files at FULL HD and audio files at a good quality while the
Arduino is incapable of doing that.Although the Arduino can make
tones using a Piezo element , it cannot play Audio straight off without a sound card / sound shield .
The
Arduino also cannot play video as it does not have the video card/
Audio card. This is reasonably acceptable as the Arduino is only a Micro-
Controller and is not built for Video/Audio output.
The Raspberry Pi can also RECORD video if you have a compatible webcam. Where as the Arduino Uno denies the opportunity .
The Raspberry Pi can also RECORD video if you have a compatible webcam. Where as the Arduino Uno denies the opportunity .
Wireless Capabilities
The Raspberry Pi is capable of connecting to the Wi Fi just by hooking it up to the attachment.
Where as the Arduino needs its more expensive Wi Fi shield . This might be a disadvantage .
The Rasperry Pi also can connect to bluetooth with the help of the bluetooth module. The same goes to the Arduino Uno .
Choosing the Right One
Choosing
the right board heavily depends on your project that you will be doing.
Here is the compiled list of some of the projects.
If you are doing with something which involves reading input from sensors, then Arduino would be your best bet as it has a good compatibility with most sensors whether it is Analog or digital.
If you are making a project that has a graphical user interface, then the Raspberry Pi would be the one for you as it can handle Video and Audio output whereas the Arduino cannot.
If you are a beginner to electronics, DIY , etc ... , then the Arduino would be you best bet as there is a big community out there which could help you to get up and running.
To Sum Up
Both
these boards are really good when compared to each other but these both
do different things.The choice is left upon the type of project that
you will be working on.
These differences have covered all of what you need until you get fairly advanced. If you are that advanced person you can also combine them both to make a deadly combination ! For now
happy hacking !
These differences have covered all of what you need until you get fairly advanced. If you are that advanced person you can also combine them both to make a deadly combination ! For now
happy hacking !
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If you want me to make any changes or if you want to do it , feel free to do so.
Sources = Images : Google Images . Specs : http://www.arduino.cc / https://www.raspberrypi.org/
