Arduino vs. Raspberry Pi: ¿cuál es mejor para aplicaciones IIoT industriales?

Introduction

Industrial IoT (IIoT) is revolutionizing factories, warehouses, and infrastructure by enabling real-time data collection, remote monitoring, and automation. Selecting the right hardware platform is critical to building robust, scalable, and secure IIoT solutions. Arduino and Raspberry Pi are two of the most popular choices—but which one is best for your industrial environment? This article compares their strengths, limitations, and use cases for IIoT applications.

Understanding the Platforms

Arduino

• Microcontroller-based (e.g., ATmega328, ARM Cortex-M)

• Simple architecture for real-time control

• Runs single program (“sketch”) at a time

• Extensive library of shields and I/O modules

• Ultra-low power consumption

Raspberry Pi

• Single-board computer (SBC) with ARM processor

• Full operating system (Linux-based, e.g., Raspberry Pi OS)

• Multitasking: run multiple programs/services simultaneously

• Broad support for networking, USB, HDMI, and storage

• Greater computational and graphical capability

Side-by-Side Comparison for IIoT

Strengths and Use Cases

When to Choose Arduino for IIoT

• Real-time control of machinery, sensors, actuators, and PLC interfacing

• Ultra-low power, battery-operated devices (remote monitoring, data logging)

• Simple automation (e.g., temperature/humidity control, relay switching)

• Environments where deterministic timing and minimal OS overhead are crucial

Example Applications:

• Motor and valve control

• Simple sensor networks

• Industrial alarm systems

• Condition monitoring in isolated locations

When to Choose Raspberry Pi for IIoT

• Edge computing: local data analysis, preprocessing, or protocol conversion before sending to the cloud

• Multi-protocol gateways: bridging Modbus, MQTT, OPC-UA, HTTP, etc.

• Applications requiring user interfaces (dashboards, HMIs) or image/video processing

• Complex integrations (machine vision, data logging with cloud sync, remote updates)

Example Applications:

• IIoT gateways and bridges

• Industrial dashboards and web servers

• Predictive maintenance analytics

• AI-driven quality inspection

Practical Considerations

• Reliability:Arduino is inherently more robust for critical control due to lack of OS and lower risk of “crashing.” Raspberry Pi, while powerful, can be vulnerable to software errors or power failures unless protected.

• Environmental Hardening:For industrial settings, choose industrial-grade versions, add enclosures, surge protection, and reliable power supplies.

• Security:Raspberry Pi offers more sophisticated options for secure communications and device management, but must be carefully configured.

• Integration:Both platforms can connect to industrial networks (e.g., RS-485, CAN, Ethernet) with add-ons; Raspberry Pi offers more built-in options.

Summary Table

Conclusion

Both Arduino and Raspberry Pi have unique strengths for IIoT applications:

• Choose Arduino for simple, real-time, low-power, and highly reliable tasks—especially for direct hardware interfacing.

• Choose Raspberry Pi when you need computing power, advanced networking, protocol translation, and edge analytics.

The best solution often combines both platforms—Arduino for device-level control and Raspberry Pi for data aggregation and connectivity—delivering a robust, scalable IIoT architecture.

References

• Industrial Internet Consortium, 2024. IIoT Architecture Best Practices.

• Arduino Pro, 2024. Arduino in Industrial Automation.

• Raspberry Pi Foundation, 2024. Edge Computing in Industry 4.0.