Microcontroller vs Microcomputer | Are you using the wrong one?
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- Опубліковано 20 жов 2024
- Microcontroller or Microcomputer? What are the differences? When do you use one over the other? Are you using the wrong one in your project? Today we are going over the basics of Microcontrollers and Microcomputers or Microprocessors. We talk about how they are different, when you should use them, and things to consider in case you want to take your project to full production later.
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Hey everyone! So do you know the differences between a Microcontroller and a Microcomputer? Let me know if you learned something new about the two and if you have used the wrong controller in a past project.
Great explanation!
Great video!
Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it.
It should be noted that the term microcomputer doesn't necessarily imply that the computer is tiny like a Raspberry Pi.
Microcomputer is simply a class of computer that uses a microprocessor, as opposed to a minicomputer or a mainframe. Your PC is a microcomputer.
When I was a child, we referred to our home computers as 'micros', but that term fell out of favor when the IBM PC became the industry standard.
This is true, and I did know that point, but since it was more of an antiquated term, I consider it with respect to the definition of a personal computer today. It is a good point to make for the history of computing, but I my main point here is that many people in the tinkering space and even some engineers that I know, don't seem to know the key differences of a microcontroller and a microprocessor. I commonly have people tell me when they are explaining a project "Oh, this would be a great use for a Raspberry Pi", when the job can really be done with a microcontroller. I have had others say the same thing about a project that really needs the compute power and resources of a microcomputer (or nano computer if you would like, maybe pico computer?) and its microprocessor, RAM, storage, and network. A Raspberry Pi is still a microcomputer by its definition, as it can be used by a single person as a desktop computer, but where it is a small, all-in-one package, most people consider it as a little different from a common PC, but it really isn't. I'm all for starting a revolution to call them pico computers.
I think creating a class of machine called a 'picocomputer' is an excellent idea. The criteria could be that it uses a SoC as opposed to the discrete CPU, memory etc used in a microcomputer.
though i do have one question, i will be happy if you answer me, i want to run vision only Simultaneous localization and mapping using Deep Artificial Neural nets with 3 cameras, for a delivery robot, can you suggest any Microcontroller chip like (stm32h, RP2040 or ATMEGA or any one you know) that i can use, thanks you ever so much.
That is an interesting question, and it really would come down to a few things about your needs. Are you looking to productize and sell your delivery robot or is it just a personal project? I would say that it is likely that with the amount of processing computer vision takes, you will probably need a microcomputer like the Raspberry Pi to handle that side of it. There are other Single Board Computers like the Rock64 series from Pine64 that might fit your bill.
With a robot, I would probably suggest using a microcontroller for the control and motion of your device. You would want something that can handle real time operations for anything control related, as they are timing critical. The computer vision side is less time sensitive, but more computationally intensive, so you will likely need more resources available to handle that. I am not sure what vision and Neural net software you plan to run, but in my experience, they will generally require more processing power. Although, from what I recall from my Machine Learning courses, you will need a more powerful machine to get through the initial training of the neural net, then you can get the trained algorithm and implement it on a less powerful device, so that might not be the largest consideration.
Sorry to not give you specifics, but especially with the current market and processor shortages, it is hard to recommend anything specifically. And with all things, the real answer is more of an 'it depends', because it does depend on a few factors of your design and requirements.
@@KuittheGeek oww thanks sir for the clear explanation, i want to productize it and sell it, and soo can i use 3 cameras on raspberry pi or Rock64, thanks in advance
So this is where things get a little bit more complicated and you will really need to start digging in and doing your research. When you get to the point of trying to productize, you will have some different constraints then when trying to develop. Manufacturing cost will be a big driving force. So it will come down to how many you intend to sell. If it isn't that many, something like a close source Raspberry Pi where you are dependent on the Raspberry Pi foundation for product, that could be fine. I think both boards should be able to handle the 3 cameras, especially if you are starting with USB cameras, but I would guess that the Rock64 might be a better starting point, as I believe it is open source and you can create your own design around it and just buy the chips from them. That being said, there are likely a ton of other chips that can also meet your specifications, so you will really need to look around.
I would start with a development board and get a minimum viable product up and going, test out and verify your design, and then move onto your final design. You might be able to find other parts that could fit your bill better as you get further down the line with your design and you figure out what does and doesn't work.
Sorry if that isn't as specific as you want, but you are really going to want to research it out yourself and find the specific parts that will correctly match and meet your specifications.
@@KuittheGeek thanks you ever so much, this is want i wants to hear, what i really want is the chips, but i couldn't get any in digi key, newark, thanks sir i really appreciate
@@al-aminibrahim1394 No problem! I am happy to help. If you are still just starting out with the design, it is always helpful to start with a dev kit of some sort and start building up a viable proof of concept, make sure everything works before committing to a design.
you having saying something like pico bom or bigger bom at 5:50 time of the vedio, please sir i dont understand can you please type it, thanks.
Ah yes, that doesn't seem to have been very clear when I said it, but I was talking about the Beaglebone. It was another single board computer, but I'm not sure how popular they are anymore. The Beaglebone black used to be one of their more popular SBCs that many used to run Linux headless or with a terminal only, I believe. I don't quite recall now, as I never really used one, and it has been a few years since I have heard anything about them. Thanks for your question, I hope that clears it up for you.
@@KuittheGeek yeah sure you are clear sir thanks, really appreciate your time sir.
@@al-aminibrahim1394 You are very welcome.
#idontknowifthesereallylongtagsaregonnatrendthatwelltobehonest
Haha, fair. :)