The Rise Of The Raspberry Pi In Industrial Settings

What Is Raspberry Pi?

Raspberry Pi is a UK invention, which started out as a small single-board computer (SBC) intended for educational purposes. It was originally developed by the Raspberry Pi Foundation, who wanted to produce a low-cost SBC for teaching basic computer science. It would primarily be for use in schools and to aid computer literacy in developing countries, allowing people of all ages to learn basic coding. The first model was released in February 2012, followed by several upgraded models in succeeding years.

This happened because the Raspberry Pi soon became much more popular than its developers expected. Due to its compact, modular nature, open design and low selling price, it was rapidly taken up by enthusiasts outside its target market. Computer hobbyists found it an ideal base for experimenting with their own builds, and the Raspberry Pi started appearing in fields such as robotics and weather monitoring. Increasing its speed and adopting the universal USB and HDMI standards made this SBC user-friendly at all levels.

How Did The Raspberry Pi Get Industrialised?

As the newer models of Raspberry Pi incorporated more capabilities, it began to be taken up by commercial and small industry enterprises. Its modules were incorporated into digital items like cameras, media players, telephony and portable music synthesisers. It was used for home automation systems and for recording data on the international space station. Several companies began to incorporate Raspberry Pi modules into industrial automation interfaces.

The Raspberry Pi really took off in industrial settings after the release of the first Raspberry Compute Module in 2014. Following the great commercial success of the original model, the next generation of SBCs was specifically aimed at business and industry. The essential elements of the Raspberry Pi were integrated onto a small board, which fitted into a standard connector.

This Compute Module looked very much like a stick of RAM, and was designed for integration into an application-specific PCB or carrier board. This gave greater scope for hardware designers to manipulate form factors, and engineers to expand I/O connectivity options. The Raspberry Pi Compute Module could be adapted by any industry sector to serve its specific needs. Later versions could be plugged into a USB port or mounted on a DIN rail, making it very versatile.

Some Use Cases For Raspberry Pi In An Industrial Setting

Several companies are using Raspberry Pi in their IIoT control devices. Hilscher's netPi I/O Gateway, for example, is a robust, heavy-duty controller, which has both wired and wireless connection capability. It can accommodate expansions and add-ons, such as modules for WSAN (wireless sensor and actuator network) communications, digital I/Os and RFID. Its resistant to dust, humidity, vibration and shock, as well as extreme temperatures. It can be VESA or DIN rail mounted, with a plug design that prevents accidental pull-outs. This type of device is designed for edge automation and can also be custom configured for tailored industrial solutions.

TechBase incorporated the Raspberry Pi Compute Module into a new design that can be adapted for targeted industrial automation and IIoT applications. The ModBerry industrial computer offers many customisable options, including wireless/GSM modems, analogue inputs/outputs or Ethernet and Serial ports. It offers multiple software and mounting options, and can allow space for additional modules or upgrades.