IoT Physical Devices & Endpoints

A Comprehensive Guide to Raspberry Pi and Other IoT Platforms

Slide 1: Introduction to IoT Physical Devices & Endpoints

What are IoT Physical Devices?

Physical computing platforms that can sense, process, and communicate

Bridge between physical world and digital systems

Enable data collection, processing, and control in IoT ecosystems

Key Characteristics:
Low power consumption

Connectivity options (WiFi, Bluetooth, Ethernet)

GPIO pins for interfacing with sensors and actuators
Programmable with various languages

Cost-effective for prototyping and deployment

Slide 2: Introduction to Raspberry Pi

What is Raspberry Pi?

Single-board computer developed by Raspberry Pi Foundation

Credit card-sized computer capable of running full Linux OS

Designed for education, prototyping, and IoT applications

Key Features:
ARM-based processor

RAM ranging from 512MB to 8GB (depending on model)

Multiple USB ports

HDMI output
Ethernet port

40-pin GPIO header

MicroSD card slot for storage
 Built-in WiFi and Bluetooth (newer models)

Slide 3: About the Raspberry Pi Board

Hardware Components:
CPU: Broadcom ARM Cortex processors

GPU: VideoCore IV/VI graphics processor

Memory: LPDDR2/LPDDR4 RAM

Storage: MicroSD card (primary), USB storage support

Power: 5V micro-USB or USB-C (Pi 4)

Different Models:
Raspberry Pi Zero: Ultra-compact, minimal features

Raspberry Pi 3: Quad-core, built-in WiFi/Bluetooth

Raspberry Pi 4: Latest generation, up to 8GB RAM, dual 4K display support

Raspberry Pi Compute Module: Industrial applications

GPIO Layout:
40 pins total (26 in older models)
Digital I/O pins

Power pins (3.3V, 5V, Ground)

Specialized pins for SPI, I2C, UART

Slide 4: Linux on Raspberry Pi

Raspberry Pi OS (Formerly Raspbian):

Official operating system based on Debian Linux
Optimized for Raspberry Pi hardware

Includes development tools and educational software

Key Features:
Desktop Environment: LXDE-based GUI
Command Line Interface: Full bash shell access

Package Management: APT package manager

 Programming Tools: Python, Scratch, Java, C/C++

Remote Access: SSH, VNC support

Installation Process:
1. Download Raspberry Pi Imager
2. Flash OS image to microSD card

3. Insert card and boot Raspberry Pi

4. Complete initial setup wizard

5. Enable SSH/I2C/SPI interfaces as needed

Slide 5: Raspberry Pi Interfaces - Serial Communication

UART (Universal Asynchronous Receiver-Transmitter):

Asynchronous serial communication protocol

Two-wire communication (TX, RX)

Common baud rates: 9600, 115200 bps

GPIO Pins for Serial:

Pin 8 (GPIO 14): UART TX

Pin 10 (GPIO 15): UART RX

Ground connection required

Applications:
Communication with Arduino boards

GPS module interfacing

Bluetooth module communication

Debug console access

Python Implementation:

python

import serial
ser = serial.Serial('/dev/ttyS0', 9600)
ser.write(b'Hello World')
data = ser.read(10)
Slide 6: Raspberry Pi Interfaces - SPI

SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface):

Synchronous serial communication protocol

Master-slave architecture

Four-wire communication system

SPI Signals:
SCLK: Serial Clock (Master generates)

MOSI: Master Out, Slave In (Data from master)

MISO: Master In, Slave Out (Data to master)

CS/SS: Chip Select/Slave Select

GPIO Pins for SPI:

Pin 19 (GPIO 10): MOSI

Pin 21 (GPIO 9): MISO

Pin 23 (GPIO 11): SCLK

Pin 24 (GPIO 8): CE0 (Chip Enable 0)

Applications:
ADC/DAC interfacing

SD card communication

Display modules

Sensor interfacing

Slide 7: Raspberry Pi Interfaces - I2C

I2C (Inter-Integrated Circuit):

Two-wire serial communication protocol

Multi-master, multi-slave capability

Address-based device identification

I2C Signals:
 SDA: Serial Data Line (bidirectional)

SCL: Serial Clock Line

Pull-up resistors required (usually 4.7kΩ)

GPIO Pins for I2C:

Pin 3 (GPIO 2): SDA

Pin 5 (GPIO 3): SCL

3.3V and Ground connections

Applications:
Temperature sensors

Real-Time Clock modules

EEPROM interfacing

Accelerometer/Gyroscope sensors

Device Addressing:
7-bit addressing (128 possible addresses)

Common addresses: 0x48 (temperature sensor), 0x68 (RTC)

Slide 8: Programming Raspberry Pi with Python

Why Python for IoT?

Easy to learn and implement

Extensive library support

GPIO control libraries available

Cross-platform compatibility

Strong community support

Essential Libraries:
RPi.GPIO: Basic GPIO control

gpiozero: Simplified GPIO interface

pygame: Graphics and game development

picamera: Camera module control

sense-hat: Sense HAT interfacing

GPIO Programming Basics:

python

import RPi.GPIO as GPIO

import time

# Setup
GPIO.setmode(GPIO.BOARD)
GPIO.setup(18, GPIO.OUT)

# Control
GPIO.output(18, GPIO.HIGH)
time.sleep(1)
GPIO.output(18, GPIO.LOW)

# Cleanup
GPIO.cleanup()

Slide 9: Controlling LED with Raspberry Pi

Hardware Requirements:
LED (any color)

220Ω resistor (current limiting)

Breadboard and jumper wires

Raspberry Pi

Circuit Connection:
1. Connect GPIO pin to resistor
2. Connect resistor to LED anode (+)

3. Connect LED cathode (-) to Ground

4. Important: Always use current limiting resistor

Basic LED Control Code:

 python

import RPi.GPIO as GPIO

import time

# Pin setup
LED_PIN = 18
GPIO.setmode(GPIO.BOARD)
GPIO.setup(LED_PIN, GPIO.OUT)

# Blink LED
for i in range(10):
GPIO.output(LED_PIN, GPIO.HIGH)
time.sleep(0.5)
GPIO.output(LED_PIN, GPIO.LOW)
time.sleep(0.5)

GPIO.cleanup()

PWM LED Dimming:

python

import RPi.GPIO as GPIO

import time

GPIO.setmode(GPIO.BOARD)
GPIO.setup(18, GPIO.OUT)
pwm = GPIO.PWM(18, 1000) # 1kHz frequency

pwm.start(0)
for duty_cycle in range(0, 101, 5):
pwm.ChangeDutyCycle(duty_cycle)
time.sleep(0.1)

Slide 10: Interfacing LED and Switch with Raspberry Pi

Hardware Setup:
LED with 220Ω resistor (output)

Push button switch (input)

10kΩ pull-up resistor for switch
 Breadboard connections

Circuit Connections:
LED Circuit:

GPIO 18 → 220Ω Resistor → LED Anode

LED Cathode → Ground

Switch Circuit:

3.3V → 10kΩ Resistor → GPIO 16

GPIO 16 → Switch → Ground

Combined Control Code:

python

import RPi.GPIO as GPIO

import time

# Pin definitions
LED_PIN = 18
SWITCH_PIN = 16

# Setup
GPIO.setmode(GPIO.BOARD)
GPIO.setup(LED_PIN, GPIO.OUT)
GPIO.setup(SWITCH_PIN, GPIO.IN, pull_up_down=GPIO.PUD_UP)

try:
while True:
if GPIO.input(SWITCH_PIN) == GPIO.LOW:
GPIO.output(LED_PIN, GPIO.HIGH)
print("Switch pressed - LED ON")
else:
GPIO.output(LED_PIN, GPIO.LOW)
time.sleep(0.1)
except KeyboardInterrupt:
GPIO.cleanup()

Slide 11: Interfacing Light Sensor with Raspberry Pi

Light Dependent Resistor (LDR):
Resistance varies with light intensity

Higher light = Lower resistance

Requires ADC for Raspberry Pi (no built-in ADC)

Using MCP3008 ADC:

8-channel, 10-bit ADC

SPI interface
3.3V operation

Hardware Connections:
MCP3008 to Raspberry Pi:

VDD → 3.3V
VREF → 3.3V

AGND → Ground
DGND → Ground

CLK → GPIO 11 (SCLK)

DOUT → GPIO 9 (MISO)

DIN → GPIO 10 (MOSI)

CS → GPIO 8 (CE0)

LDR Circuit:

3.3V → LDR → ADC Channel 0

ADC Channel 0 → 10kΩ Resistor → Ground

Python Code for Light Sensing:

 python

import spidev
import time

spi = spidev.SpiDev()
spi.open(0, 0) # Bus 0, Device 0
spi.max_speed_hz = 1000000

def read_adc(channel):
adc = spi.xfer2([1, (8 + channel) << 4, 0])
data = ((adc[1] & 3) << 8) + adc[2]
return data

try:
while True:
light_level = read_adc(0)
voltage = light_level * 3.3 / 1024
print(f"Light Level: {light_level}, Voltage: {voltage:.2f}V")
time.sleep(1)
except KeyboardInterrupt:
spi.close()

Slide 12: Other IoT Devices - pcDuino

pcDuino Overview:
High-performance mini PC
Arduino-like interface with PC performance

Runs full Linux distributions

Key Features:
Processor: ARM Cortex-A8, 1GHz

RAM: 1GB DDR3

Storage: 4GB flash, microSD slot

Connectivity: WiFi, Ethernet, HDMI

GPIO: Arduino-compatible pins

Power: 5V, 2A requirement

Advantages:
 Arduino IDE compatibility

Full Linux OS support

Hardware video acceleration

Multiple programming languages support

Good community documentation

Applications:
Home automation systems

Robotics projects

IoT gateways

Educational platforms

Slide 13: Other IoT Devices - BeagleBone Black

BeagleBone Black Overview:

Single-board computer by BeagleBoard.org

Focuses on connectivity and real-time performance

Open-source hardware and software

Technical Specifications:
Processor: AM335x 1GHz ARM Cortex-A8

RAM: 512MB DDR3

Storage: 4GB eMMC, microSD slot

Connectivity: Ethernet, USB host/client

GPIO: 65 digital I/O pins

Analog: 7 analog inputs

Real-time: PRU (Programmable Real-time Units)

Unique Features:
PRU Subsystem: Real-time processing capability

Cape Expansion: Hardware add-on system

Multiple OS Support: Debian, Ubuntu, Android

Cloud9 IDE: Web-based development environment

Programming Options:
Python, JavaScript (Node.js), C/C++
BoneScript library for GPIO control

Real-time applications with PRU

Slide 14: Other IoT Devices - Cubieboard

Cubieboard Overview:
ARM-based single-board computer

Designed for high-performance applications

Multiple variants available

Technical Specifications:
Processor: Allwinner A10/A20 ARM Cortex-A8/A7

RAM: 1GB DDR3

Storage: 4GB NAND flash, SATA connector

Graphics: Mali-400 GPU

Connectivity: Ethernet, WiFi (optional)
Expansion: 96 extension pins

Key Advantages:
SATA Support: Direct hard drive connection
High Performance: Dual-core options available

Android Support: Native Android compatibility

Hardware Acceleration: Video/graphics processing

Storage Options: Multiple storage interfaces

Applications:
Media centers and streaming
Network-attached storage (NAS)

Development platforms
Industrial automation
Slide 15: Comparison of IoT Platforms

Performance Comparison:
Feature Raspberry Pi 4 pcDuino BeagleBone Black Cubieboard

CPU Quad-core 1.5GHz Single-core 1GHz Single-core 1GHz Single/Dual-core

RAM Up to 8GB 1GB 512MB 1GB

GPIO 40 pins Arduino-compatible 65 pins 96 pins

Storage MicroSD Flash + SD eMMC + SD NAND + SATA

Real-time Limited No Yes (PRU) Limited

Cost $35-75 $60-80 $55 $60-90

 

Selection Criteria:
Raspberry Pi: Best for beginners, great community
pcDuino: Arduino compatibility needed

BeagleBone Black: Real-time applications

Cubieboard: High-performance multimedia

Slide 16: IoT Device Selection Guidelines

Factors to Consider:
Performance Requirements:

Processing power needed

Memory requirements

Real-time constraints
Graphics/multimedia needs

Connectivity Options:

WiFi/Bluetooth requirements

Ethernet connectivity
Cellular options
Protocol support (MQTT, CoAP)

Development Ecosystem:
 Programming language preference
Library availability

Community support
Documentation quality

Physical Constraints:

Size limitations
Power consumption

Environmental conditions

Expansion requirements

Cost Considerations:

Initial hardware cost

Development time

Maintenance costs
Scale of deployment

Slide 17: Best Practices for IoT Development

Hardware Design:
Use appropriate current limiting resistors
Implement proper power supply decoupling

Consider EMI/EMC requirements

Plan for thermal management
Design for reliability and maintenance

Software Development:
Implement error handling and recovery
Use version control systems

Document code thoroughly

Implement security measures

Plan for over-the-air updates

Testing and Validation:

 Unit testing for individual components
Integration testing for complete systems

Performance testing under load

Security vulnerability assessment
Field testing in target environment

Deployment Considerations:
Remote monitoring capabilities
Automated deployment procedures

Rollback mechanisms
Logging and diagnostics

User training and documentation

Slide 18: Future Trends in IoT Devices

Emerging Technologies:
Edge AI: Machine learning on device
5G Connectivity: Higher bandwidth, lower latency

Energy Harvesting: Self-powered devices

Quantum Sensors: Ultra-sensitive measurements
Flexible Electronics: Wearable and embedded sensors

Industry Developments:
Standardization efforts (Matter, Thread)

Enhanced security protocols

Improved power efficiency

Smaller form factors
Cost reduction through scale

Application Areas:
Smart cities and infrastructure
Industrial IoT (IIoT)

Healthcare monitoring
 Agricultural automation
Environmental sensing

Slide 19: Summary and Key Takeaways

Raspberry Pi Advantages:
Excellent learning platform
Strong community support

Comprehensive GPIO capabilities

Multiple interface options (SPI, I2C, UART)
Cost-effective for prototyping

Programming Essentials:
Python provides easy GPIO control
Proper circuit design prevents damage

Interface protocols enable sensor integration

Error handling ensures robust operation

Platform Selection:
Consider specific project requirements

Evaluate performance vs. cost trade-offs

Assess development ecosystem maturity

Plan for scalability and maintenance

Success Factors:
Start with simple projects

Follow best practices

Test thoroughly
Document everything

Engage with community resources

Slide 20: References and Further Reading

Primary Reference:
Arshdeep Bahga, Vijay Madisetti - "Internet of Things: A Hands-on Approach"

Universities Press
ISBN: 0-996025510

ISBN-13: 978-0996025515

Additional Resources:
Raspberry Pi Foundation Documentation
BeagleBoard.org Community Resources

Arduino and pcDuino Forums

Linux GPIO Programming Guides
IoT Protocol Specifications

Online Communities:
Raspberry Pi Forums
Stack Overflow IoT Tags

GitHub IoT Projects

IEEE IoT Publications

Industry Whitepapers and Standards

Hands-on Learning:
Start with basic LED control
Progress to sensor integration

Experiment with different protocols

Build complete IoT systems
Participate in maker communities

This presentation provides a comprehensive overview of IoT physical devices and endpoints, with detailed
coverage of Raspberry Pi programming and interfacing, along with comparisons of other popular IoT
platforms.