Article Review
Format MLA
Volume of 2 pages (550 words)
Assignment type : Article
Description
Cite your sources using MLA format.
Read the assigned article. The document should use proper spelling and grammar and be approximately original words. Break the paper in to three sections, one labeled Summary, one labeled Reaction, and one labeled Questions.
• Summarize the article in your own words (around 250-300 words)
• Write your reaction to it (around 250-300 words)
• Describe three questions or critiques that you still have after reading the article (perhaps what you may not understand, or something you think was missing from the article). (around 50 words)
Article
You may have never used Raspberry Pi or Arduino, but chances are you’ve heard of them.
Raspberry Pi has been the best-selling British computerfor years now and Arduino has been
transforming the DIY community one board at a time. There’s no shortage of options designed
to provide you with a little electronic control over your projects, but the budget-friendly
Raspberry Pi and the plethora of solutions under the Arduino brand are certainly two of the
most popular.
But comparing the two can be like judging a lineup of cats and dogs. They’re both animals —
they both lick themselves — but they each dig holes for very different reasons.
So lets pit Arduino vs. Raspberry Pi to help you identify what to purchase for your next project.
Say Hi To Raspberry Pi
1/5
For all intents and purposes, the Raspberry Pi is a fully functional computer. It has all the
trappings of a computer, with a dedicated processor, memory, and a graphics driver for output
through HDMI. It even runs an optimized version of the Linux operating system called
Raspbian. Most Linux software is easy to install, and lets you use the Raspberry Pi as a
functioning media streamer or video game emulator with a small amount of effort.
Though the Raspberry Pi doesn’t offer built-in on-board storage, you can use microSD cards to
store whatever operating system you choose, whether its Raspbian, Ubuntu Mate, or even the
Internet of Things version of Windows 10. You can essentially install different operating
systems on different microSD cards for swapping platforms, testing updates, and debugging
software. And because the card includes Wi-Fi and Ethernet-based connectivity, you can also
set it up for access via SSH, or transfer files to it using FTP.
Technically, there are six versions of the Raspberry Pi board you can purchase right now, but
overall there are only two form factors: full-size and miniature. The most recent Raspberry Pi
boards are the full-size third-generation Model B for $35, and the miniature Raspberry Pi Zero
for a mere $5. For the latter, you can purchase a version with Wi-Fi and Bluetoothfor $10. The
other three Raspberry Pi boards on the market are older-generation full-size models: Gen2
Model B ($30), Gen1 Model B+ ($25), and Gen1 Model A+ ($20).
Here’s a comparison between the two major models with built-in Wi-Fi:
Raspberry Pi 3 Model B Raspberry Pi Zero W
Processor: Broadcom BCM2837 Broadcom BCM2835
Processor cores: 4 1
Processor speed: 1.2GHz 1.0GHz
Memory: 1GB 512MB
Storage: MicroSDHC MicroSDHC
Connectivity: Wireless N
Bluetooth 4.1
Wireless N
Bluetooth 4.1
Ports: 4x USB-A 2.0
1x HDMI 1.3
1x Micro USB
1x stereo/composite video
1x 40-pin GPIO
1x CSI camera port
1x DSI display port
1x Mini HDMI
1x Mini USB OTG
1x Micro USB
1x 40-pin GPIO
1x CSI camera port
1x Composite video header
1x Reset header
Dimensions: 3.370 x 2.224 x 0.669 inches 2.56 x 1.18 x 0.20 inches
Price: $35 $10
As shown, Raspberry Pi products are the brain of your project. For instance, thePiper
Computer Kit we reviewed last year is a Linux-based laptop powered by the Raspberry Pi 3, as
is Kano’s Computer Kit Complete that kids can assemble to create a Linux-based all-in-one
PC. 2/5
Those are two examples of kits you can purchase, but there’s a large community that can steer
you in the right direction to build projects from scratch, such as Game Boy Zero, a working
miniature Macintosh, Pip-Boy from Fallout 4, and more.
Meet Arduino
Unlike Raspberry Pi, Arduino boards are micro-controllers, not full computers. They don’t run a
full operating system, but simply execute written code as their firmware interprets it. You lose
access to the basic tools an operating system provides, but on the other hand, directly
executing simple code is easier, and is accomplished with no operating system overhead.
The main purpose of the Arduino board is tointerface with sensors and devices, so it’s great
for hardware projects in which you simply want things to respond to various sensor readings
and manual input. That might not seem like a lot, but it’s actually a very sophisticated system
that allows you to better manage your devices. It’s great for interfacing with other devices and
actuators, where a full operating system would be overkill for handling simple read and
response actions.
But because Arduino isn’t the “brain” of your project, solutions aren’t locked to a handful of
boards. Instead, there are more than 50 solutions for entry-level products, advanced devices,
Internet of Things projects, education, wearables, and 3D printing. Of course, they all have
processors, memory, and in some cases storage, but they’re designed to serve as controllers,
not miniature computers.
Great examples of Arduino projects can be found here. One project is the Arduino Servo
Catapult that fires off a bowl full of food when a cat walks onto a pressure sensor mat seated
under its dish. Another project transforms a Nerf Vulcan gun into a sentry turret that can track
its enemies. Arduino devices can even be used to add a fingerprint scanner onto a garage
door opener. As we reported earlier, many robot kits for kids you can buy on Amazon are
based on the Arduino software and hardware platform.
The two systems have very different power requirements. For starters, the Raspberry Pi 3
Model B board uses 1.5 watts when idle, and up to 6.7 watts when a monitor, keyboard, and
mouse is connected. The smaller Raspberry Pi Zero W consumes 0.5 watts of power when
idle, and 1.75 watts when a monitor, keyboard, and mouse is attached.
Both Raspberry Pi boards require five volts to remain on, so you need a wall adapter or
rechargeable battery pack with a higher voltage. For instance, both Raspberry Pi-based kits
we reviewed provided an internal rechargeable battery that connected directly to the board.
These batteries included an additional Micro USB port for recharging via a wall adapter, or
using the device like any other electrically tethered PC. 3/5
Meanwhile, Arduino devices begin executing code when turned on, and stop once you pull the
plug. To add functionality, you either wire directly into the pins on the Arduino board, or stack
chips called “shields” on top of the base unit. There are hundreds of shields, each of which is
designed to perform a different task, interface with certain sensors, and work with one another
to build a complete control unit.
Thus, for Arduino, you merely need a battery pack that keeps the voltage above a certain level,
along with a basic shield to manage the power. Even if the power drops on the Arduino, you
won’t end up with a corrupt operating system or other software errors: it will just start running
code when it’s plugged back in. For Raspberry Pi, you must shut it down within the operating
system like any other computer, or else risk corruption and software problems.
The Raspberry Pi 3 has both a built-in Ethernet port and Wireless N connectivity, which allows
easy access to any network with little setup. Once you’re connected, you can use the
operating system to connect to web servers, process HTML, or post to the internet. You can
even use it as a VPN or print server.
Unfortunately, Arduino devices typically aren’t built for network connectivity directly out of the
box. Though it’s possible, they require a bit more tinkering to set up a proper connection. You’ll
need an extra chip outfitted with an Ethernet port, and you’ll need to do some wiring and
coding to get everything up and running just right, which is enough of a process in itself that
some vendors sell comparable Arduino devices with a built-in Ethernet component.
Arduino vs. Raspberry Pi: Sensors
While Raspberry Pi and Arduino devices have a number of interface ports, connecting analog
sensors to Arduino devices is an easier process. The micro-controller can easily interpret and
respond to a wide range of sensor data using the code you put on it, which is great if you
intend to repeat a series of commands or respond to sensor data as a means of making
adjustments to servos and devices.
Raspberry Pi boards, on the other hand, require software to effectively interface with these
sorts of devices, which isn’t always what you need if you’re just trying to water plants or keep
your beer at the right temperature. Using both in a project isn’t all that uncommon, as the
Arduino device could act as a control board that executes commands issued by the Raspberry
Pi’s software before the sensor information is fed back for recording or acknowledgement.
Match made in DIY heaven?
So which solution is right for you? The answer will depend heavily on your project.
You should take the Arduino route if the main task involves reading sensor data and changing
values on motors or other devices. Given the low power requirements and upkeep of Arduino
devices, they’re also a good choice if your project will continuously run, and require little to no
interaction. 4/5
You should go with a Raspberry Pi board if your project involves a task you would otherwise
accomplish on a personal computer. Raspberry Pi boards make a slew of operations easier to
manage, whether you intend to connect to the internet to read and write data, view media of
any kind, or connect to an external display.
But given the two devices accomplish different tasks, using both in some instances is ideal. As
one optional example, Raspberry Pi could give you client-side access to the settings and code,
while the Arduino gadget could handle the actuation of devices, and gather data from the
sensors. There are a number of ways to go about making the connection, whether you prefer
USB, a local network, or by running some of the I/O ports on the Arduino device .
