Low-cost development platforms, the most popular of which are Arduino and Raspberry, have an essential role for training in electronics and computer science and for the prototyping of small embedded systems, for example in robotics, home automation, audio, video, etc. This has led to the creation of large communities of users (teachers and amateurs) with forums, tutorials, projects, online software.
In this article, the basic characteristics are first presented: the price, the processor and the software environment. The characteristics related to the applications are then discussed: a simple example for electronics training is followed by the presentation of the various sensors and actuators that will be controlled by the platform’s microcontroller or processor. The different interfaces necessary for the applications exist in the form of independent modules (cards) or are integrated into the platforms which are real nano-computers: WiFi and Bluetooth, graphic and audio interfaces, Ethernet, etc. After this general presentation, we will examine in more detail the offerings of Arduino and Raspberry Pi, which are the most significant examples of such platforms.
The specificities of Arduino and Raspberry programming are covered, with small program examples. Two examples of robot control projects are presented. The article ends with the highlights of the Arduino and Raspberry platforms: summary of characteristics, communities, sales volumes.