Raspberry Pi — SBC
Raspberry Pi SBC — Introduction
Raspberry Pi single-board computers (SBCs) are full Linux computers on a credit-card-sized board. Unlike microcontrollers (ESP32, STM32), a Raspberry Pi runs a complete operating system — making it ideal for AI/ML edge applications, computer vision, and Linux-based IoT gateways.
Raspberry Pi Models
| Model | CPU | RAM | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raspberry Pi 5 | Cortex-A76 quad-core 2.4 GHz | 4 / 8 / 16 GB | Edge AI, computer vision, desktop |
| Raspberry Pi 4B | Cortex-A72 quad-core 1.8 GHz | 1 / 2 / 4 / 8 GB | General purpose IoT, ML inference |
| Raspberry Pi CM4 | Same as Pi 4 | Up to 8 GB | Industrial, custom boards |
| Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W | Cortex-A53 quad-core | 512 MB | Lightweight, low-power IoT nodes |
For Analog Data Edge AI workshops, we recommend the Raspberry Pi 5 (8 GB) or Raspberry Pi 4B (4 GB).
What You'll Need
| Item | Notes |
|---|---|
| Raspberry Pi board | Pi 4B or Pi 5 recommended |
| microSD card | 16 GB minimum, 32 GB+ recommended. Class 10 / A2 rated |
| microSD card reader | To flash the OS from your computer |
| USB-C power supply | Official 27W USB-C PSU for Pi 5; 15W for Pi 4 |
| Ethernet cable (optional) | For headless wired connection |
| HDMI cable (optional) | Micro-HDMI on Pi 4/5 — needed for display setup |
Raspberry Pi OS Options
| OS | Description | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| Raspberry Pi OS (64-bit) | Full desktop environment | Workshops with monitor |
| Raspberry Pi OS Lite (64-bit) | Headless, command-line only | Server use, AI/ML, IoT |
| Ubuntu Server 24.04 LTS | Full Ubuntu for Pi | Docker, advanced Linux |
| Ubuntu Desktop 24.04 | Full desktop Ubuntu | Students who prefer Ubuntu |
For Analog Data workshops, we use Raspberry Pi OS Lite (64-bit) in headless mode.
Connection Methods
| Method | Hardware Needed | Setup Complexity |
|---|---|---|
| Headless SSH (recommended) | Just USB power + Ethernet/Wi-Fi | Low |
| Display + keyboard | Monitor, micro-HDMI cable, USB keyboard/mouse | Low |
| USB OTG (Pi Zero) | USB cable only | Medium |
| VS Code Remote SSH | Your laptop + SSH | Low (after SSH is set up) |