I’ve programmed business systems for years, and now I want to get into controlling (and reporting on) related mechanical systems. Preferably, I would like to send out (and collect) the IO directly from my business program, but if things are easier or better when split up, then that’s fine. I’d like to read 30 temperatures (or whatever), and turn on/off a few lights and motors as well, based on a combination of manufacturing rules, and my input from the IO capabilities. It sounds like an Arduino might be all that I need. I want to automate the works, but allow a human to override the system, and perhaps to even change the settings, so maybe a RPi should be added too. The BBB looks like it might be able to do everything that the Arduino can do though, and it also has the computer capabilities that I “might” need. So back to the subject line …
Can a BBB do everything that an Arduino can do? If not, what’s missing? It looks like either the RPi or the BBB could direct the Arduino (if an Arduino is still required), but because I don’t need extreme sound quality, or great graphic capability, it looks like either the RPi or the BBB could do the directing part for me … and maybe, the BBB could do the whole thing. So what would I be giving up if I went only with the BBB?
Any thoughts?
rjc
The beaglebone(s) are a completely different class of embedded “system” compared to the Arduino. In short, the Arduino may be able to do 1/100th of what the beagelbone(s) can do. Hell, the two PRU’s ( Programmable real time unit ) can do any one thing the Arduino can do up to ~10x faster.
For your suggested use case, the Beagelbone(s) are also better than the rPI. The rPI is better suited for media type stuff, such as playing video, etc.
At least one caveat here. There is much more to learn when using an embedded Linux system. Be it rPI or Beaglebone. if you have Linux experience you have a head start on this.
Anyway, your question is rather general . . . I would suggest you pick up reading material for the beaglebone on the web, and perhaps take in a video or two from youtube,
This is only my opinion.
If you are new to either linux, or gpio programming in particular. I would get a RPi first. The Pi is meant to be educational. And has a TON of stuff on the internet about it, from a free monthly magazine, to books, to just a lot of info on the internet. While the RPi is very useful (much more so than the Arduino – in fact I regularly translate Arduino code into Python for running on my Pi), it has no native A/D pins.
The BBB has far more capability in every way you can think of. I intend to make a SDR radio soon on mine.
Anyway, learn something easier first. Learn linux, and learn gpio programming in general. Then step up to the BBB.
Jerry
The Pi is meant to be educational. And has a TON of stuff on the internet about it, from a free monthly magazine, to books, to just a lot of info on the internet.
The most important part is understanding Linux. You do not need to know everything, just everything that applies to your situation. Most things are a few hours away from achieving, once you understand Linux, and perhaps a bit of a google session.
Anyway, my point here is that anything you can learn about the rPI can easily be applied to the beaglebone(s).