Guide to Single Board Computers

Single board computers, or SBCs, offer a simpler, more robust, and easier-to-program alternative to their more complex counterparts. Discover their diverse applications and benefits.

Single board computers are prevalent in educational institutions, research laboratories, households, and computer enthusiast clubs across New Zealand. They present an affordable means to delve into coding and practical projects such as robotics. Compact, efficient, and highly reliable, these computers play crucial roles in automation, equipment monitoring and control, security and surveillance, military applications, and various industrial processes where a simple yet durable board is indispensable.

These devices are typically utilized with backplanes, facilitating easy connection to systems in a compact configuration.

Determining the best single board computer is akin to choosing between Windows, iOS, or Android – it largely depends on your budget, desired performance level, and specific requirements. Factors such as physical size, delivery times, and age may also influence your decision.

When selecting a single board computer, it's crucial to ensure it can withstand the environmental conditions it will be exposed to. Factors like minimum and maximum operating temperatures, size, socket types, and other specifications should be considered to determine suitability for your intended application.

While single board computers may offer less flexibility in expandability compared to multi-board designs, the availability of SBCs with various expansion slots is rapidly expanding. Specialized designs cater to embedded applications where space is limited, providing powerful solutions tailored to specific needs.

Although single board computers may not match the performance of desktop PCs, advancements in technology have made them increasingly powerful. Models like the BeagleBoard and Raspberry Pi offer accessibility, enabling developers to harness the capabilities of an entire computer on a small circuit board that can be easily expanded for practical applications or experimentation. Over time, the price of single board computers has decreased while capabilities have expanded, making them more accessible than ever.

Single board computers are commonly utilized in embedded applications, where they serve specific functions without the ability for expansion. They are often integrated into rack systems for reliable and fast integration into larger systems.

While single board computers could theoretically perform office tasks, they are not typically used for such purposes due to potential compatibility issues with mainstream office software suites. However, they find extensive use in industry for tasks such as controlling programmable machinery or running basic servers.

Education and experimentation represent significant uses for single board computers. Their affordability makes them ideal for classroom settings, facilitating learning in programming, robotics, and other STEM subjects. They are also popular for home projects, including Internet of Things applications and home networking setups.

In industry and business settings, single board computers are employed for security applications, basic controllers, and as controllers for large industrial machinery. Their compact size, ruggedness, and reliability make them suitable for such tasks. The military frequently utilizes them in specialist devices such as tablet computers, drones, and surveillance systems.

Single board computers possess the necessary capacity to perform most automation tasks, with specialized designs offering significant advantages over traditional desktop computers for specific applications.

Their compact size allows for embedding in space-constrained devices, while their efficiency translates to power-saving benefits. Additionally, their self-contained nature enhances reliability in demanding environmental conditions.

Despite potential higher costs compared to multi-board computers, the reliability and cost-effectiveness of single board computers make them valuable assets in industry. Various backplane options enable significant expansion of capabilities, allowing SBCs to rival or surpass multi-board computers in certain configurations while maintaining a compact footprint.

Single board computers come in various types, with the most common ones designed for backplane connections. These designs are compatible with different architectures, including Intel architectures and others, such as PXI, VXI, and CompactPCI, all readily available in the market.

Numerous manufacturers offer single board computers, and here are some of the most popular brands:

Intel Single Board Computer

Intel, renowned for its CPUs, manufactures a series of high-performance single-board computers. These SBCs serve as viable alternatives to desktop PCs, supporting operating systems like Windows or Linux. Equipped with quad-core GPUs, professional cases, and comprehensive connectivity options, Intel SBCs are suitable for office settings or even gaming.

Raspberry Pi

Raspberry Pi stands out as one of the most well-known manufacturers of single-board computers, commonly found in educational institutions, laboratories, and industrial applications. These SBCs are highly affordable, with a continuous stream of new models keeping pace with technological advancements. One notable advantage of Raspberry Pi is its ubiquity, making it easy for users, including educators, to integrate into various settings.

Arduino

Arduino offers affordable, compact, and expandable single board computers, akin to Raspberry Pi. Both hardware and software are open-source, contributing to cost-effectiveness. Operating on the Xinu operating system and programmable using C and C++, Arduino SBCs are suitable for learning to code and running machinery or novelty applications. While compatibility issues may arise due to the OS, Arduino SBCs are ideal for educational purposes and even for cost-effective utilization in professional machinery projects with the right expertise.

Single board computers are available with a range of specifications tailored to different needs. Some feature I/O interfaces optimized for audio, networking, wireless applications, and more, enhancing their versatility.

While SBCs typically integrate all components onto a single board, some models include expansion slots. These slots support various designs like microSD, Mini PCI, PCI, ISA, PCI Express, and others, catering to diverse connectivity requirements.

Basic specifications for single board computers resemble those of desktop computers, including processor clock speed, front-side bus clock speed, type of processor, memory capacity, and more. Given their utilization in simple applications, opting for SBCs with relatively lower power compared to desktop counterparts can offer significant cost savings.

Explore the diverse range of single board computers available to find the perfect fit for your project or application.