Raspberry Pi vs. Arduino: Brains vs. Brawn

You want to build a robot. You buy a board. Which one?

• Raspberry Pi: A Mini-PC.
• Arduino: A Microcontroller.

The Computer (Raspberry Pi)

• OS: runs Linux (Windows-ish).
• Power: fast (Quake 3).
• Con: It has to “Boot up.” If power cuts for 1 second, it crashes and takes 1 minute to restart. It’s terrible for precise timing.

The Microcontroller (Arduino)

• OS: None. It runs ONE loop of code forever.
• Power: Slow (Calculator).
• Pro: Instant on. Precise timing to the microsecond.
• Usage: Controlling motors, reading sensors.

The Team

Most advanced robots use Both.

• Pi: Thinks (“I see a cat”).
• Arduino: Acts (“Move leg servo 30 degrees”). The Pi is the General. The Arduino is the Soldier.