Raspberry Pi

This is a tiny computer.

It was made to help kids learn to code. It is small and does not cost much. This makes it great for many projects.

You can use it for robots or smart tools. Some even fit inside a keyboard.

Many people around the world use them. It is a very popular tool for making things.

A Raspberry Pi is a tiny, single-board computer.

It was made by a group in the United Kingdom. They wanted to help students learn computer science. Because it is small and cheap, many people use it. You can use it for robots or smart tools.

Some models are even built inside a keyboard.

Most models use a system on a chip. This is a single part that holds many computer tools. It includes a CPU, which is the brain. It also has a GPU to help with pictures. You can plug in a mouse or a screen. The computer uses a microSD card to store files.

People have bought many of these computers. In 2016, it became a top-selling British computer. Over 68 million units have been sold. There are many different types to choose from. Some are very small, like the Raspberry Pi Pico. This is a microcontroller, which is a tiny computer for simple tasks. Newer models, like the Pi 5, are very fast.

A Raspberry Pi is a tiny, single-board computer.

It is much smaller than a normal desktop computer. These little machines are very flexible and inexpensive. People use them for many different things today. You might see them in robots or smart home tools. Some are even used in big factories to run machines.

They are wonderful tools for learning how computers work.

Most models work using a system on a chip, or SoC. This is a single part that holds many computer tools. It includes a central processing unit, or CPU, which acts as the brain. It also has a graphics processing unit, or GPU, to help show pictures.

You can connect screens using HDMI ports. You can also plug in mice using USB ports. To store files, these computers usually use a small microSD card. Some models even have built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

The Raspberry Pi Foundation started in the United Kingdom in 2008. A group including Eben Upton wanted to help students. They noticed fewer students were studying computer science. They wanted to make a cheap computer to spark interest in programming. The name comes from the fruit and the Python programming language.

The first Model B launched on February 29, 2012. It cost only $35 at the start. Demand was so high that websites crashed from too many visitors.

Since its launch, the Raspberry Pi has grown very quickly. In 2015, it became the best-selling British computer of all time. It even beat the famous ZX Spectrum. By February 2016, eight million units had been sold.

Later, sales reached ten million in September 2016. By May 2021, forty million units were sold. Eventually, the total reached 68 million units. This shows how much people love these small computers.

There are many different types of Raspberry Pi to choose from. The flagship series is about the size of a credit card. The Raspberry Pi 400 is a special version built inside a keyboard.

There is also the Raspberry Pi Pico, which is a tiny microcontroller.

The newest Pi 5 is very fast and has up to 16 GB of RAM. These different models help people build everything from simple toys to powerful computers.

The Raspberry Pi is a series of small single-board computers (SBCs). These devices are compact, flexible, and inexpensive. They were originally developed in the United Kingdom by the Raspberry Pi Foundation. The Foundation worked with Broadcom to create these machines. While they began as educational tools, they are now used for many things. You can find them in industrial automation, robotics, and home automation. They are even used in Internet of Things (IoT) devices.

Most Raspberry Pi models function using a system on a chip (SoC). An SoC is a single integrated circuit that holds many components. It typically includes a central processing unit (CPU) and a graphics processing unit (GPU). The CPU acts as the main brain for processing instructions. The GPU handles the rendering of images and video.

These computers offer various ports for connectivity. They include HDMI ports for video and audio output. They also feature USB ports for peripherals and GPIO pins for hardware control. Storage is usually provided by a microSD card. Some models also include wireless networking via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

The Raspberry Pi product line is divided into several distinct series. The flagship series consists of standard boards about the size of a credit card. These include the Model B and Model A series. The flagship series has evolved from the original 2012 Model B to the powerful Raspberry Pi 5. The Raspberry Pi 400 is a unique keyboard series. This model integrates the computer hardware directly into a keyboard.

There is also the Compute Module series. These are miniature versions designed for industrial and embedded applications. Finally, the Pico series consists of microcontrollers. The Pico uses a custom RP2040 chip and does not have a GPU.

The history of the Raspberry Pi began in 2008. The Raspberry Pi Foundation was established by a group including Eben Upton. They noticed a decline in students studying computer science at the University of Cambridge. Their goal was to rekindle interest in programming among schoolchildren. This mission was inspired by the BBC Micro computer from the early 1980s. The names "Model A" and "Model B" honor that history. The name "Raspberry Pi" combines fruit-themed naming with a nod to the Python programming language.

The first commercial model, the Model B, launched on February 29, 2012. It had an initial price of $35. Demand was so high that distributor websites crashed. One distributor reported over 100,000 pre-orders on the first day. To meet demand, production was increased to 4,000 units per day by July 2012. Manufacturing eventually moved to a Sony factory in Pencoed, Wales. In 2012, the Foundation created Raspberry Pi (Trading) Ltd. to handle commercial activities. This allowed the Foundation to focus on its charitable mission. In June 2024, the company went public on the London Stock Exchange.

The growth of the Raspberry Pi has been massive. In 2015, it surpassed the ZX Spectrum as the best-selling British computer. By February 2016, sales reached eight million units. By May 2021, sales hit forty million units. Total sales eventually reached 68 million units.

The hardware has seen many significant leaps. The Raspberry Pi 2 arrived in 2015 with a quad-core CPU. The Raspberry Pi 4 launched in 2019 with USB 3.0 and dual-monitor support. The Raspberry Pi 5, released in October 2023, features an upgraded CPU and up to 16 GB of RAM.

Today, the Raspberry Pi ecosystem connects to many advanced fields. The company has expanded into artificial intelligence hardware. They released the Raspberry Pi AI Camera, which uses an Intelligent Vision Sensor. This allows for computer vision applications at the "edge," or directly on the device. They also introduced the AI HAT+, which uses a neural processing unit (NPU). These tools help with machine learning workloads. From simple hobbyist projects to complex industrial robots, the Raspberry Pi remains a vital tool in modern computing.