A microcontroller provides improved performance, energy efficiency, dual-core flexibility, and I/O options, suited for real-time applications and low-power, embedded projects.
The Raspberry Pi has released the RP2350, marking an advancement in its microcontroller lineup. The chip is designed to deliver better performance while maintaining energy efficiency, making it a useful addition to the maker and embedded systems communities.
The RP2350 features dual Arm Cortex M33 cores with a built-in floating point unit, providing computational capabilities for embedded projects. It also incorporates dual RISC-V HAZARD3 cores alongside the Arm cores, though only two cores can be active at any time. This hybrid design allows for flexibility in balancing between architectures for different applications.
With a clock speed of 150 MHz, the RP2350 enables faster data processing, especially useful for real-time applications. The chip also includes three Programmable I/O (PIO) units, increasing flexibility for interfacing with external peripherals in I/O-driven projects.
Despite its increased power, the new architecture is optimized for energy efficiency, delivering nearly twice the performance at stock clocks while using less power than earlier models. This balance between power and efficiency makes the RP2350 suitable for both hobbyist and professional projects.
The RP2350 provides users with power and flexibility through its large on-chip memory, symmetric dual-core processor, deterministic bus fabric, and a set of peripherals enhanced by the Programmable I/O (PIO) subsystem. Its documentation, MicroPython port, and built-in UF2 bootloader in ROM offer accessibility and a low barrier to entry for beginners and hobbyists.
As a stateless device, it supports cached execute-in-place from external QSPI memory. This allows users to choose the appropriate density of non-volatile storage for their needs while benefiting from the cost savings of commodity flash components.
Built on a 40 nm process node, the RP2350 delivers performance with low dynamic power consumption and leakage. It also offers low-power modes, making it suitable for battery-powered applications requiring extended operational time.
For more information, click here.
