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What is Raspberry Pi? -
What can Raspberry Pi do? -
What impact does Raspberry Pi have on the world? -
What role and applications does Raspberry Pi have in technology education? -
What are some classic examples of Raspberry Pi? -
What features does Raspberry Pi 5 have? -
What is the development history of Raspberry Pi?
What is Raspberry Pi?
Raspberry Pi is a microcontroller developed by the Raspberry Pi Foundation in the UK, aimed at promoting basic computer science education in schools with low-cost hardware and open-source software. The size of Raspberry Pi is only the size of a credit card, but it has the basic functions of a personal computer, can connect to monitors, keyboards, mice, cameras, and other peripherals, and run various operating systems such as Raspberry Pi OS (official), Ubuntu, Android, etc. Raspberry Pi also has a series of General Purpose Input Output (GPIO) pins that can connect various sensors, controllers, modules, etc., to achieve programming control over hardware.
What can Raspberry Pi do?
The uses of Raspberry Pi are very extensive, almost anything you can think of, it can do. You can use it to learn programming, make games, build servers, control robots, make music, play videos, take photos, browse the web, etc. Raspberry Pi can also be combined with other devices to create various interesting and practical projects, such as smart homes, self-driving cars, underwater drones, holographic projectors, grilled cheese machines, etc.
What impact does Raspberry Pi have on the world?
Since its release in 2012, Raspberry Pi has become the undisputed king of computer programming projects. As of 2020, it is the third best-selling general-purpose computer platform after MAC and PC, with 30 million Raspberry Pi units sold worldwide in 8 years. Raspberry Pi has not only been loved by enthusiasts and developers but has also been recognized and applied in the education, industry, and research sectors. Raspberry Pi has become a global community and movement, attracting millions of participants to share ideas and experiences, promoting the popularization and development of computer science and digital skills.
What role and applications does Raspberry Pi have in technology education?
Raspberry Pi was originally designed to promote basic computer science education in schools. It provides an easy-to-use and flexible platform at a low price, allowing students to learn programming and hardware control through practice, fostering innovative thinking and hands-on skills. Raspberry Pi is suitable for learners of all ages and levels, whether beginners or experts, everyone can find tutorials and projects that suit them. Raspberry Pi also supports multiple programming languages, such as Python, Scratch, Java, etc., allowing students to choose their preferred way to express their ideas. The role and applications of Raspberry Pi in technology education have been recognized and promoted globally, with many countries and regions incorporating Raspberry Pi into their education systems, laying a solid foundation for cultivating future technology talents.
What are some classic examples of Raspberry Pi?
There are countless classic examples of Raspberry Pi, here are just a few for your reference.
• Grilled Cheese Machine: This is a project created by a group of friends and students from Carnegie Mellon University. They made a grilled cheese-making machine powered by Raspberry Pi, called Cheeseborg. The machine is voice-activated and uses Google Assistant on Raspberry Pi to trigger the grilled cheese-making process. Cheeseborg handles everything from assembly to cooking and then places the sandwich into a pocket on the side of the machine.
• Robotic Hand: This project was made by engineering student Loeliger, who created a robotic hand that can be operated by a user wearing a glove controller. Moving the glove causes the robotic hand to move. Raspberry Pi Zero transmits the input information from the glove to the servo driver board of the robotic hand. The individual movement of the fingers is controlled by a pulley system made of fishing line mounted on the servo motor. Loeliger hopes the concept can be used to assist rescue workers in dangerous situations.
• Holographic Projector: This project was created by school teacher Dan Aldred, who made a holographic projector using Raspberry Pi. It all started when he saw his students using old CD cases and phones to do similar things. It has four pyramid-shaped acrylic plates (glass is recommended). Holographic videos are displayed on the screen above the pyramid, creating 3D images inside. He used Raspberry Pi A+ to control the entire operation.
• Underwater Drone: This project was created by Android developer Ievgenii Tkachenko, who submerged his Raspberry Pi underwater to create an underwater drone controlled by Raspberry Pi that can tweet in real-time. It is powered by four motors. To send control signals to them, he designed an Android application to interact with Raspberry Pi. You can control the input using a touchscreen and even control a game board.
• Chord Assistant: This project was designed by Joe Birch, who uses a Raspberry Pi connected to a guitar to display chord input. It has a refreshable Braille display that emits chord information, making it easier for visually impaired people to play, learn, and tune the guitar. The project can also provide audio feedback through voice recognition and synthesis.
What features does Raspberry Pi 5 have?
Raspberry Pi 5 is the latest generation of microcontroller released by the Raspberry Pi Foundation on September 28, 2023, with the following main features:
• It uses a 64-bit quad-core Arm Cortex-A76 processor with a clock frequency of 2.4GHz, with memory options ranging from 1GB to 8GB, and performance improved two to three times compared to Raspberry Pi 4;
• Equipped with an 800MHz VideoCore VII graphics chip, supporting OpenGL ES 3.1 and Vulkan 1.2, with substantial improvements in graphics performance;
• Integrated WiFi and Bluetooth 5.0 capabilities, supporting dual-screen display and 4K resolution, providing two HDMI ports and four USB ports;
• Uses the RP1 I/O controller designed by the Raspberry Pi Foundation, supporting PCIe 2.0 interface, allowing connection to NVMe SSDs and other high-speed storage devices;
• Supports Power over Ethernet (PoE) functionality, allowing power supply via Ethernet cable;
• Supports multiple operating systems, such as Raspberry Pi OS, Ubuntu, Windows 10 IoT Core, etc.
The starting price of Raspberry Pi 5 is $60, and it is now available for pre-order worldwide. Raspberry Pi 5 is a powerful and flexible computing platform suitable for various creative and educational projects.
What is the development history of Raspberry Pi?
The development history of Raspberry Pi can be divided into the following stages:
• In 2006, Broadcom engineer Eben Upton began to conceive a low-cost educational computer, inspired by classic computers from the 1980s such as the BBC Micro and Acorn. He hoped to allow more students to access programming and hardware.
• In 2008, Upton formed the Raspberry Pi team with Robert Mullins, Alan Mycroft, Jack Lang, and others from the University of Cambridge, and began designing prototypes. They named it “Raspberry” after the fruit and used the mathematical symbol “π” to represent the Python language.
• In 2011, the Raspberry Pi team publicly displayed the prototype for the first time and released a Debian-based operating system online. They received support and sponsorship from companies such as Broadcom, Sony, RS Components, and attention and feedback from enthusiasts and media worldwide.
• In 2012, Raspberry Pi officially launched its first product — Model B, priced at $35, with 256MB of memory, equipped with Ethernet, HDMI, USB, and other interfaces. The product quickly sold out after its launch, leading to supply chain and quality control issues. That year, Raspberry Pi also launched a cheaper Model A, priced at $25, with 128MB of memory, removing the Ethernet interface. In addition, Raspberry Pi developed camera modules, display modules, and other accessories and began production in the UK.
• In 2014, Raspberry Pi released upgraded versions of the first generation products — Model B+ and Model A+, with memory increased to 512MB and 256MB, respectively, and interfaces optimized and expanded. That year, Raspberry Pi also launched the smaller and cheaper Zero series, priced at only $5, with 512MB of memory, but still retaining core functions.
• In 2015, Raspberry Pi released the second generation product — Raspberry Pi 2 Model B, still priced at $35, but with memory increased to 1GB and the processor upgraded from single-core to quad-core. The product significantly improved performance and could run operating systems like Windows 10 IoT Core.
• In 2016, Raspberry Pi released the third generation product — Raspberry Pi 3 Model B, still priced at $35, but with memory increased to 2GB and the processor upgraded from quad-core to octa-core. This product integrated WiFi and Bluetooth functionality for the first time and supported 64-bit operating systems.
• In 2018, Raspberry Pi released an upgraded version of the third generation product — Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+, still priced at $35, but with memory increased to 4GB and the processor upgraded from octa-core to hexadeca-core. This product improved network speed and stability and supported Power over Ethernet (PoE) functionality.
• In 2019, Raspberry Pi released the fourth generation product — Raspberry Pi 4 Model B, priced between $35 and $75, with memory options from 1GB to 8GB, and the processor upgraded from hexadeca-core to thirty-two-core. This product significantly improved graphics performance and multimedia capabilities, supporting dual-screen display and 4K resolution.
• In 2020, Raspberry Pi released its first all-in-one computer — Raspberry Pi 400, priced at $70, with 4GB of memory, using the same processor as Raspberry Pi 4 Model B. This product integrates Raspberry Pi and a keyboard, resembling home computers from the 1980s, and can be used by simply connecting a monitor and power supply.
• In 2021, Raspberry Pi released its first microcontroller — Raspberry Pi Pico, priced at only $4, with 264KB of memory and a self-designed RP2040 chip. This product is suitable for low-power and embedded applications and can be used with peripherals such as sensors, motors, LEDs, etc.
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