Raspberry Pi

Raspberry Pi
source
Name	Raspberry Pi
Developer	Raspberry Pi Foundation
Released	2012
Cpu	ARM
Memory	256 MB–8 GB
Storage	SD card, eMMC, USB
Os	Linux, Windows IoT Core, RISC OS, others

Raspberry Pi is a series of small single-board computers created to promote computing and digital making. Introduced by the Raspberry Pi Foundation, the platform has influenced hobbyist communities, academic research projects, startup prototypes, and industrial designs across diverse fields.

History

The project emerged from initiatives led by the Raspberry Pi Foundation, influenced by computing education debates involving institutions such as the University of Cambridge Computer Laboratory, Imperial College London, University of Oxford, and advisory bodies including the Royal Society. Early advocacy drew on lessons from microcomputer eras involving the BBC Micro, Acorn Computers, Commodore 64, Sinclair ZX Spectrum, and references to pioneers like Alan Turing and Ada Lovelace. Design decisions and funding attracted partnerships with corporations such as Broadcom, Element14, Sony, and Google while distribution networks involved retailers like RS Components, Farnell, and online vendors influenced by platforms like eBay and Amazon (company). Key milestones were publicized at conferences and venues including London Toy Fair, Maker Faire, CES, and repositories like GitHub. The Foundation’s outreach intersected with non-profits such as Code Club, CoderDojo, Computing At School, and policy discussions in forums like UK Parliament committees. Notable recognitions included awards from organizations such as the Royal Academy of Engineering, Wired (magazine), and IEEE events.

Hardware

Board designs rely on system-on-chip suppliers including Broadcom, with CPU architectures following roadmap developments from ARM Ltd. and iterations inspired by devices such as the BeagleBone, Arduino, Intel NUC, and NVIDIA Jetson. Input/output connectors mirror standards from USB Implementers Forum, HDMI Forum, MIPI Alliance, and storage formats from the SD Association. Peripheral ecosystems include camera modules compatible with the Sony Corporation image sensors, networking chips from Realtek, wireless modules certified by Bluetooth SIG and Wi-Fi Alliance, and power management ICs from vendors like Texas Instruments and Analog Devices. Manufacturing and assembly have involved facilities associated with Sony UK Technology Centre and contract manufacturers linked to CERN experimental setups. Cooling solutions, heatsinks, and cases are produced by makers referencing standards from IPC (association) and electronics distributors like Digi-Key and Mouser Electronics.

Software and Operating Systems

Official distributions and community images include operating systems from projects and companies such as Debian, Ubuntu (operating system), Fedora Project, Arch Linux, Microsoft (for Windows IoT Core), and legacy systems like RISC OS. Software ecosystems draw on toolchains from GNU Project, compilers such as GCC, development environments like Eclipse, package management systems from APT (software), container runtimes originating at Docker, Inc., virtualization frameworks such as QEMU, and continuous integration services hosted by Travis CI and GitLab. Multimedia stacks integrate projects from FFmpeg, GStreamer, and drivers maintained on GitHub. Educational platforms compatible with the hardware include Scratch (programming language), Python (programming language), and resources from Khan Academy, Coursera, and edX providers.

Models and Variants

The lineup includes board families and derivative products developed in collaboration with industry partners and academic labs, echoing naming conventions used by platforms such as BeagleBoard, Tinker Board, Odroid, and Banana Pi. Variants have targeted markets ranging from consumer prototypes to embedded applications in sectors overlapping with companies like Intel Corporation, NVIDIA Corporation, Qualcomm, and specialized vendors such as ASUS for compute modules. Community-driven clones and accessories have been produced by firms active in maker ecosystems including Adafruit Industries, SparkFun Electronics, Seeed Studio, and Pimoroni.

Uses and Applications

Adoption spans projects in robotics connected to competitions like FIRST Robotics Competition and RoboCup, instrumentation in scientific collaborations like experiments at CERN and observatories associated with European Southern Observatory, industrial IoT deployments influenced by standards from IEC and IEEE Standards Association, and media centers competing with platforms from Apple Inc. and Netflix, Inc. for streaming clients. Research applications reference labs at institutions such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University, Harvard University, and University of California, Berkeley. Commercial deployments include prototypes by startups incubated at Y Combinator and corporate labs at firms like IBM, Siemens, and GE. Creative uses intersect with projects promoted at Maker Faire, exhibitions at Science Museum (London), and artist collectives collaborating with galleries such as the Tate Modern.

Community and Education

Community growth is supported by organizations and initiatives such as Code Club, CoderDojo, Computing At School, The Raspberry Pi Foundation itself, and collaborative repositories on GitHub. Educational outreach leverages curricula influenced by bodies like Ofsted, standards referenced by ISTE, and partnerships with publishers such as O’Reilly Media, No Starch Press, and Routledge. Events and networks include PyCon, FOSDEM, Hackaday Superconference, and local makerspaces affiliated with Fab Lab Network, incubators like Techstars, and accelerator programs run by Seedcamp. Community media, tutorials, and magazines are published by outlets such as MagPi Magazine, Make (magazine), Wired (magazine), and bloggers connected to the Stack Overflow community.

Category:Single-board computers