It’s not breaking news that the Raspberry Pi has taken over the world of microcontrollers. But if you need a smaller, more portable version with some special features, there is now an option for you: The RP2040 MICROCONTROLLER!
This new chip was developed by Raspberry Pi to be used in different projects where size and power are more important than complex programming. With this new product, they also released their own board called Pico (low-cost high performance).
Why is Raspberry Pi RP 2040 Special?
It’s a great option if you are currently doing classic Arduino projects and want to try something different. The RP2040 can be found on Raspberry Pi Pico, Arduino Nano RP 2040, or even the new Microcontroller Boards! If you’re looking for an embedded microcontroller that is easy to use – Raspberry Pi Pico has arrived! But why is it special?
What is a Microcontroller?
A microcontroller is a computer that controls different systems and devices. It has its own operating system, memory, and input/output circuits which makes it very easy to program-specific tasks without using your computer! There are many types of these chips such as Arduino Nano, Raspberry Pi Pico, or the RP2040 MicroController. Each one has different power usage so you should choose carefully depending on what project you want to do.
The best part about these new boards is that they can be used in multiple projects: there’s no need for an Arduino if you’re already doing some Raspberry Pi work (or vice versa). And it doesn’t end here – we’ve made sure that all our Pro Minis support both platforms, giving them even more uses!
Microcontrollers in Robotics
Using a microcontroller in your robotics projects is one of the best ways to control and manage them. It’s a great way to program-specific tasks without having to use a computer, so it saves time! No matter if you are using an Arduino Nano or Raspberry Pi Pico – we have what you need for any project.
DIY Electronics Projects
A microcontroller can also be a great option for your own DIY electronics projects. If you are not an expert programmer or maybe don’t have enough time to learn, using one of these boards is the most effective way to build amazing circuits!
Microcontrollers in Everyday Life
These chips with embedded software play many roles in everyday life. From controlling household appliances like fridges and ovens to powering medical equipment, they are everywhere – so why go with anything else? The main advantage that they offer is simplicity: just connect them where needed and start coding without worrying about compatibility issues. With their low cost and size, it will give you more options than ever before on what you want/need to do! There’s no need for a Raspberry Pi if you already have some Arduino projects on the go or vice versa.
RP 2040 Specifications
The RP2040 MicroController is a brand-new chip that supports Python and C/C++. It’s an extremely small (the size of the tip of your finger) single-board computer with integrated USB, SPI, UART, I²C bus support as well as one 12 bit ADC channel. The main advantage here is the ease to program this device using different programming languages like Python or C++!
It can run at speeds up to 133 MHz, has 16MB user flash memory for storing programs, and has 512 byte EEPROM. For wireless connectivity, it features Bluetooth BLE v5 & Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n standards on Chip Antenna also available in two flavors: Pro+WiFi(with antenna) and Pro(no antenna).
Key features:
- Dual ARM Cortex-M0+ @ 133MHz
- 264kB on-chip SRAM in six independent banks
- Support for up to 16MB of off-chip Flash memory via dedicated QSPI bus
- DMA controller
- Fully-connected AHB crossbar
- Interpolator and integer divider peripherals
- On-chip programmable LDO to generate core voltage
- 2 on-chip PLLs to generate USB and core clocks
- 30 GPIO pins, 4 of which can be used as analogue inputs
- Peripherals
- 2 UARTs
- 2 SPI controllers
- 2 I2C controllers
- 16 PWM channels
- USB 1.1 controller and PHY, with host and device support
- 8 PIO state machines
Raspberry Pi Pico
The new Raspberry Pi Pico is an ultra-low-cost, high-performance microcontroller board that was developed by the Raspberry Pi Foundation to be used in projects where size and power are more important than complex programming. This little guy has everything you need for your project: it comes with GPIO pins, integrated USB device support (including HID), a wide range of operating voltages, a built-in 100 MHz oscillator as well as a Python library! It can run at speeds up to 50MHz. The best part about this product is its small form factor – only 67mm x 30mm! We’ve also made sure that Raspberry Pi Pico both Arduino Nano & RP 2040 MicroController.
What makes Raspberry Pi Pico special?
There are many microcontrollers on the market, but not all of them come with GPIO pins – these allow you to connect different peripherals like sensors or LEDs directly onto your board! What also sets it apart is its price: at only $20 (USD), Raspberry Pi Pico is one of the cheapest boards out there! We’ve put our best efforts into creating something that fits every project – for this reason, we made sure that SparkFun Pro Minis can be used in both Arduino & Python projects! This versatile chip has unlimited possibilities and great value… so what are you waiting for?! Start building right now by checking out some amazing tutorials on how to get started!
Arduino Nano RP 2040 Board
Nowadays, you can find a lot of microcontrollers that have different purposes. One type is the Arduino Nano RP 2040 board which has its own set of features and it’s useful in many projects. The main difference between this chip and others is that it acts as a bridge between Raspberry Pi Pico & MicroPython – giving them even more uses!
Arduino boards come with their own integrated development environment (IDE) but they only support C/C++ programming languages, so if you want to use other ones like Python or Java then your best bet would be to get another kind of controller. The good thing about Arduino boards is how easy it makes prototyping: no need to connect wires every time; just plug into the board and upload your program to it. Another interesting fact is that Arduino Nano boards come in different forms, shapes & sizes which you can use depending on the purpose of your project. But be careful – if you want a certain type then check out their specifications first!
Where to buy Raspberry Pi RP2040?
Now that we’re done with the specifications and advantages of the Raspberry Pi Pico & Arduino Nano RP 2040 board, it’s time to find out where you can buy them! Buy it from jlcpcb.com! They also have other boards like MicroMod Processor Board for ultimate flexibility which is perfect if you’re looking into building something big and complex – just check out our website for more information about them! The best part? If you ever need any help setting up & installing these controllers, don’t hesitate to contact us at info@jlcpcb.com! Their team of experts JLCPCB is always happy to answer all your questions so feel free to ask away!
JLCPCB is one of the best Online PCB manufacturing companies from where you can order PCBs online without any hassle. The company works 24 hours a day, 7 days a week nonstop. With their high-tech machinery and automated workstream, they can manufacture huge quantities of high-class PCBs within hours.
Conclusion
The Raspberry Pi Pico is a low-cost, high-performance microcontroller board that was developed by the Raspberry Pi Foundation to be used in projects where size and power are more important than complex programming. This little guy has everything you need for your project: it comes with a lot of GPIO pins, integrated USB device support (including HID), a wide range of pin functions, as well as a Python library! It can run at speeds up to 133MHz. The best part about this product is its small form factor.
