Arduino Uno, Raspberry Pi, and ESP32 Interview Questions
General Comparison
1. What are the key differences between the Arduino Uno, Raspberry Pi, and ESP32?
Arduino Uno: Simple microcontroller board, ideal for basic control tasks; lacks an OS and complex
connectivity options. Raspberry Pi: Full single-board computer with an OS, good for multitasking,
internet applications, and higher processing power tasks. ESP32: Microcontroller with built-in Wi-Fi
and Bluetooth, great for IoT; balances connectivity and processing power with low energy use.
2. How do the processing capabilities of these three boards compare?
Arduino Uno has an 8-bit, 16 MHz microcontroller, which is suitable for basic tasks. Raspberry Pi
has a much faster processor (1.2 1.5 GHz) and can multitask, making it ideal for complex
applications. ESP32 has a 32-bit dual-core processor up to 240 MHz, handling more complex tasks
than Arduino Uno but using less power than Raspberry Pi.
3. Which board would you choose for a low-power IoT application and why?
ESP32 is ideal due to its low power modes, built-in Wi-Fi/Bluetooth, and versatility in IoT
applications.
Specific Technical Aspects
4. Can you explain the operating systems supported by the Raspberry Pi compared to the Arduino
Uno and ESP32?
Raspberry Pi runs OSes like Raspbian, a Linux-based OS, allowing complex multitasking. Arduino
Uno and ESP32 typically do not use full OSes; Arduino uses a simple firmware, and ESP32 can run
FreeRTOS for real-time operations.
5. How do the GPIO pins on an Arduino Uno differ from those on an ESP32?
Arduino Uno: 14 digital and 6 analog pins; mainly for basic input/output tasks. ESP32: More
versatile, with 30-40 GPIO pins, plus ADC, DAC, I2C, SPI, and UART capabilities, suited for
complex applications.
6. What are the typical power requirements for these boards?
Arduino Uno: Around 0.05W, great for battery projects. Raspberry Pi: Higher consumption (2.5W to
5W), generally needs stable power. ESP32: Uses low power modes to conserve energy, around
0.6W, making it efficient for IoT projects.
