Introduction to Single-Board
Computers
The difference between
Arduino and Raspberry Pi
and alternatives
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What is ARDUINO??
Arduino is an open-source physical computing platform.
It is a small microcontroller board with a USB plug.
Based on a simple i/o board and a development environment that implements the
Processing/writing language.
Arduino can be used to develop stand-alone interactive objects or can be connected to software on
your computer.
Easy-to-use hardware and software.
It’s intended for students, artists,designers,hobbyists and anyone who tinker with technology.
It is programmed in Arduino Programming language(APL) similar to C/C++.
Way more easy to program compared to other microcontroller packages.
The Arduino is a microcontroller development platform(not a microcontroller….)
It is the winner of “worlds best interaction award 2012” sponsered by google
Arduino Board
• “Strong Friend” Created in Ivrea, Italy
• in 2005 by Massimo Banzi & David Cuartielles
• Open Source Hardware
• Processor
• Coding is accessible & transferrable (C++, Processing, java)
ARDUINO
Different flavours!!!
There are many versions of Arduino board.versions differ by
size,microcontroller,etc
The Arduino Development Board
Making-robots-with-arduino.pdf
The Arduino Microcontroller: Atmel ARV
Atmega 328
Specification
Making-robots-with-arduino.pdf
Try It: Connect the USB Cable
todbot.com/blog/bionicarduino
todbot.com/blog/bionicarduino
Arduino IDE
See: http://arduino.cc/en/Guide/Environment for more information
Our First Program
Adding control – let’s use the Arduino
and start programming!!!
Arduino & Arduino Compatible Boards
Project #1: Wiring Diagram
Move the green
wire from the
power bus to pin 13
(or any other Digital
I/O pin on the
Arduino board.
Image created in Fritzing
Digital Sensors (a.k.a. Switches)
Add an indicator LED to Pin 13
This is just like our 1st circuit!
Project 2 – RGB LED
• Note: The longest
leg of the RGB
LED is the
Common
Cathode. This
goes to GND.
Use pins 5, 6, & 9
Driving Motors or other High Current Loads
• NPN Transistor (Common Emitter “Amplifier” Circuit)
to Digital
Pin 9
Single-Board Computer vs. Microcontroller
Raspberry Pi Arduino UNO
Single-Board Computer Microcontroller (MCU)
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Why are they so popular?
• They are cheap
• They sense and manipulate the physical world
– GPIO pins (reading values/sending instructions)
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Internet of Things (IoT)
• Connection of embedded computing devices
to the internet
– Home Automation
– Augmented Reality
• Connecting non-computer devices
– Aquariums
– Home Entertainment
– Etc.
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Single-Board Computer vs. Microcontroller
What is the difference?
Single-board Computers Microcontrollers
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Single-Board Computer vs. Microcontroller
Rough Specifications
Microcontrollers Single-Board
Computers
Processor Speed ~50 Mhz 1 Ghz +
Onboard Storage 64 Kb Flash, SD cards ~Gb
Memory (RAM) 64 Kb ~ 1 Gb
Power 12 mA 500 mA+
Consumption (2200 mAh battery -> 183hr) (2200 mAh battery-> 4.4 hr)
Reboot Time <1 sec ~ Multiple seconds
Other Features Operating system
Extendable Storage
Network Connection
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Single-Board Computer vs. Microcontroller
Examples of Embedded Systems
Broadcom BCM2835
CPU, GPU, RAM ATMega328
Storage
CPU, RAM, Storage
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Single-Board Computer vs. Microcontroller
Defining Features
• Single-board computer
– Lots of processing power
– Has operating system (Linux, Android, soon Windows)
– Monitor Connection
– Cheap, “weak” computer
• Microcontroller
– Devoted to having GPIO pins
– Low power, quick boot
– Very cheap (especially if you buy only IC)
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Microcontrollers
STM Microcontrollers
STM32L DISCOVERY STM32 Nucleo F401RE
STM32L152RBT6 Cortex-M3 STM32F401RET6
Microcontroller CPU
Flash Memory 128KB 2 MB
Clock Speed 32 Mhz 180 Mhz
RAM 16KB 256 KB
Price (approx,
$10.50 here $12.40 here
USD)
1 touch sensor
Other
1 LCD display
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http://www.st.com/web/catalog/tools/PF250990
Microcontrollers
Texas Instruments LaunchPad
Tiva C Series
MSP430F5529
MSP-EXP430G2 TMC4C1294
TM4C1294NCPDT
Microcontroller MSP430 MSP430
ARM Cortex-M4
Flash Memory 16 KB 128KB 1 MB
Clock Speed 16 Mhz 25 MHz 120 Mhz
RAM 512B 8KB 256 KB
Price (approx, USD) $9.99 here $12.99 here $19.99 here
Other Ethernet
http://www.ti.com/ww/en/launchpad/launchpad.html 26
Microcontrollers
Thousands Others
Some of these had limited production runs or have been discontinued.
Nanode Pinguino PIC32
Beetle
Ruggeduino Freescale Teensy
Gamebuino
Freedom
Beetle: http://www.dfrobot.com/wiki/index.php/Beetle_SKU:DFR0282
Nanode: http://www.nanode.eu/
Pinguino PIC32: https://www.olimex.com/Products/Duino/PIC32/PIC32-PINGUINO/open-source-hardware
Ruggeduino: http://www.ruggedcircuits.com/ruggeduino/
Gamebuino: http://gamebuino.com/
Freescale Freedom: http://www.freescale.com/webapp/sps/site/overview.jsp?code=FREDEVPLA
Teensy: https://www.pjrc.com/teensy/ 27
Single-Board Computers
• Properties
– Processor Speed (Ghz, Multiple core)
– RAM (speed of RAM)
– Video Card (Home entertainment)
– On-board storage (FLASH)
– Hard-drive storage
– GPIO pins
– Features
• Audio jack
• IR remote
• Blue tooth
• Other connectors
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Single-Board Computers
Hidden Costs
• Minimum:
SD card Ethernet Connection USB Power
• Other Requirements:
HDMI connection + Monitor Keyboard + Mouse +
USB Hub (sometimes)
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Single-Board Computers
Raspberry Pi
Raspberry Pi Model B Raspberry Pi 2
Processor ARM1176JZF-S core Quad-core ARM7
Flash Memory None None
Clock Speed 700 MHz 800 MHz
RAM 512MB 1 GB
Price (approx, USD) $39.95 $35.00
Other Features 2x USB ports 4x USB2.0
26x GPIO pins 40x GPIO pins
http://www.raspberrypi.org/
Image Source: http://www.techradar.com/news/computing-components/peripherals/raspberry-pi-2-outed-with-faster-cpu-double-ram-and-windows-10-support-1283075
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Single-Board Computers
Beaglebone Black
Beaglebone Black
Processor 1GHZ
2GB 8-bit eMMC on-board
Flash Memory
storage
RAM 512MB DDR3
• Open Hardware
Architecture
Other Features
• 1x USB port
• 92x GPIO pins
Price (approx, USD) $45.00
http://beagleboard.org/
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Single board Computers
Banana Pi
Banana Pi
Processor 1 GHz dual core
Flash Memory None
RAM 1GB DD3
SATA Connection
Other Features Audio Connector
2x USB
Price (approx, USD) $60
http://www.bananapi.org/
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Single board Computers
ODROID-C1
ODROID-C1
Processor 1.5GHz quad core
Flash Memory slot for expansion
RAM 1GB DD3
Infrared (IR) receiver
Other Features
4x USB
Price (approx, USD) $36.95
http://www.hardkernel.com
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Single-Board Computers
UDOO
UDOO Quad
Processor Quad-core 1GHz
Flash Memory None (SATA connector)
RAM 1 GB DDR3
2x USB port
WiFi Module
Other Features 76 x GPIO pins
Analog Audio and Mic
Price (approx, USD) $135.00
http://www.udoo.org/
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Single board Computers
Firefly-RK3288
Firefly-RK3288
Processor 1.8GHz quad core
Flash Memory 16 GB
RAM 2 GB DD3
Infrared (IR) receiver
Other Features VGA adapter
2x USB
Price (approx, USD) $189
http://www.t-firefly.com/en/
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