Is Arduino a PIC Microcontroller? Unraveling the Differences
Arduinos are often misunderstood as a type of microcontroller, but the truth is, they are more accurately described as microcontroller development boards. This article will help clarify the differences between Arduino and PIC microcontrollers, exploring their architectures, programming methods, and use-cases.
What is Arduino?
Arduino is not a microcontroller itself, but a platform that consists of a microcontroller and a development board. Designed to be user-friendly and easy to program, Arduino boards allow users to develop and prototype digital products quickly. The core of an Arduino board is a microcontroller, which is usually one of the following: Atmel AVR 8-bit ARM Cortex-M0 32-bit ARM Cortex-M3 32-bit Intel Quark ×86 32-bit
While the term 'PIC' might be familiar, Arduino boards do not use PIC microcontrollers. PIC microcontrollers, on the other hand, are produced by Microchip and are different in architecture and design philosophy.
What is a PIC Microcontroller?
Microchip's PIC microcontrollers are renowned for their robustness and ease of use. Developed in 1993, PIC microcontrollers stand for Peripheral Interface Controller. They are part of a family of microcontrollers and are known for their fast processing and ease of programming. PIC microcontrollers are typically based on a Harvard architecture, which effectively separates the program and data memory spaces. This is different from the architecture of AVR microcontrollers used in Arduino boards.
Avr Architecture vs. Pic Architecture
The two microcontroller architectures, AVR and PIC, are quite different, each with its own merits. AVR architecture, used in Arduino boards, is often referred to as a modified Harvard architecture. This design allows for efficient program storage and execution, as it separates program and data memory. Microchip's PIC microcontroller, on the other hand, is based on the original Harvard architecture, which also separates program and data memory.
AVR microcontrollers, such as the ATmega328 used in Arduino boards, were one of the first microcontrollers to use on-chip flash memory for program storage. This was a significant advancement over other microcontrollers that used one-time programmable ROM, EPROM, or EEPROM for data storage. Programmers typically use tools like ATMEL burner or USB-TTL converters to upload code onto AVR microcontrollers, whereas PIC microcontrollers often use PICKIT burners and the MIKROC C programming environment.
Similarities and Differences
Despite their differences, both Arduino and PIC microcontrollers share some similarities in their functionalities. Both include standard General Purpose Input/Output (GPIO) pins, Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) pins, Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) pins, and support Inter-Integrated Circuit (I2C) and Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) communication among other features.
In terms of ease of use, Arduino boards are highly user-friendly and support a wide range of programming environments, including Arduino IDE, allowing beginners to quickly prototype and develop projects. On the other hand, PIC microcontrollers offer a more traditional approach to microcontroller programming, which can be more complex for beginners. However, their robustness and ease of programming make them a popular choice for many applications.
Conclusion
In summary, while both Arduino and PIC microcontrollers serve to develop and prototype digital projects, they differ significantly in architecture, programming methods, and design philosophy. Arduino boards, based on AVR microcontrollers, offer a highly user-friendly and easy-to-program solution for quick prototyping, while PIC microcontrollers provide a robust and efficient solution for a wide range of applications. Understanding these differences can help you choose the right tool for your specific project needs.