Can Raspberry Pi Power Your Next Industrial Prototype?

For over a decade, the Raspberry Pi has been a favorite tool for hobbyists, students, and makers—powering everything from coding lessons to retro gaming consoles. But in recent years, the Pi has stepped into a new arena: industrial prototyping and edge computing.

So here’s the real question: Can a $35–$75 Raspberry Pi really handle industrial-grade projects?

Spoiler: Yes—if you equip it the right way.

The Case for Raspberry Pi in Industrial Prototyping

At first glance, the Raspberry Pi doesn’t look like an industrial controller. It lacks rugged enclosures, DIN rail mounts, and screw terminals. But underneath, it offers:

• A full Linux OS (Debian, Ubuntu, Yocto) with automation support

• Built-in GPIO, UART, I²C, and SPI interfaces

• Support for modern frameworks like Python, Node-RED, MQTT, Docker, and Kubernetes

• An enormous open-source community and documentation

In short, Raspberry Pi is a low-cost, highly customizable platform—and for prototyping industrial systems, flexibility is more valuable than specialized hardware.

Real-World Industrial Applications

Here are some practical ways engineers and developers are already using Raspberry Pi in industry:

• Process Monitoring – Collect sensor data (temperature, vibration, pressure) via I²C or SPI

• Predictive Maintenance – Run machine learning models at the edge to detect anomalies in motors or pumps

• Legacy Bus Control – Communicate with Modbus RTU (RS-485) or CAN-enabled devices

• IoT Gateways – Securely bridge field devices to the cloud over MQTT or HTTPS

• Human-Machine Interfaces (HMI) – Power dashboards and touchscreen displays for operators

These use cases prove the Pi isn’t just a toy—it’s a capable prototype platform for Industry 4.0 projects.

Limitations of Raspberry Pi in Industrial Settings

Despite its versatility, the Raspberry Pi wasn’t designed for rugged environments. Common pain points include:

• No analog inputs (ADC required)

• GPIOs vulnerable to voltage spikes

• No native RS-485 or CAN transceivers

• MicroSD card wear from constant logging

This is where most DIY Pi projects break down. Without the right expansion hardware, you end up with a tangle of HATs and breakout boards—not a production-ready prototype.

The Solution: Raspberry Pi Expansion Boards

To unlock industrial capability, you need a single, consolidated expansion board that adds all the missing features.

Meet the Top HAT

The Top HAT is an industrial expansion board that transforms the Raspberry Pi into a deployment-ready prototyping system:

• RS-485 Support – Native Modbus RTU and custom serial communication

• Analog Inputs (ADC) – Read real-world sensors with precision

• GPIO Expansion – Drive relays, LEDs, and isolated digital IO

• Integrated USB Hub – Expand connections for data logging or wireless modules

Instead of stacking multiple HATs, the Top HAT provides a single industrial-grade interface layer.

Top View of the Cirkitscape Top HAT

Prototype Fast, Scale Smarter

With the Top HAT, your Raspberry Pi becomes more than a development board—it becomes a launchpad for real-world solutions. Whether you're in the lab or on the factory floor, you can:

• Build and test prototypes in hours, not weeks

• Validate industrial sensors and protocols quickly

• Scale your software stack with Linux tools and Docker

• Transition later to a custom board or hardened industrial PC

This workflow keeps costs low and iteration cycles fast—perfect for startups, engineers, and R&D teams.

Final Thoughts

The Raspberry Pi may not be industrial out of the box, but with the right expansion hardware, it’s a serious contender for industrial prototyping.

Whether you’re building a smart factory tool, an IoT gateway, or a process automation system, the Pi can help you move from concept to prototype faster than traditional industrial PCs.

And with solutions like the Top HAT, you don’t need to cobble together multiple HATs—you get a clean, reliable platform ready for real-world testing.

Want to see how the Top HAT can level up your Raspberry Pi? Check out the product page here or get in touch for more details.

UART vs SPI vs I2C: Which Protocol Should You Actually Use?

UART / SPI / I²C side‑by‑side wiring overview

If you've ever stared at a microcontroller datasheet wondering whether to use UART, SPI, or I2C for your next project, you're not alone. These three serial communication protocols are the backbone of embedded systems, but choosing the wrong one can lead to headaches down the road.

As engineers, we've all been there - debugging a sluggish I2C bus at 3 AM or wondering why our SPI sensor isn't responding. The truth is, each protocol has its sweet spot, and understanding when to use which one can save you countless hours of troubleshooting.

The Serial Communication Landscape

Before diving into the comparison, let's understand why serial protocols matter. In embedded development, components need to talk to each other - microcontrollers to sensors, processors to memory, displays to controllers. Serial communication allows this data exchange using fewer wires than parallel interfaces, reducing PCB complexity and cost.

Quick Protocol Overview

UART (Universal Asynchronous Receiver-Transmitter)

• The Simple One: Point-to-point communication

• Wires: 2-3 (TX, RX, optional GND)

• Speed: Typically 9600 to 115200 baud, up to 1 Mbps

• Addressing: None - direct connection only

SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface)

• The Speed Demon: High-speed, full-duplex communication

• Wires: 4+ (MOSI, MISO, SCLK, CS per slave)

• Speed: 10+ MHz common, can exceed 100 MHz

• Addressing: Chip select lines for each slave

I2C (Inter-Integrated Circuit)

• The Bus Master: Multi-device shared bus

• Wires: 2 (SDA, SCL) plus power and ground

• Speed: 100 kHz (standard), 400 kHz (fast), 1 MHz (fast+)

• Addressing: 7-bit or 10-bit device addresses

Head‑to‑Head Comparison

Head‑to‑Head Comparison of Serial Protocols

Feature	UART	SPI	I2C
Speed	Moderate (up to 1 Mbps)	Fast (10–100+ MHz)	Slow to Moderate (100 kHz–1 MHz)
Wires	2–3	4+ (scales with slaves)	2
Complexity	Simple	Moderate	Moderate
Multi‑device	No	Yes (with CS lines)	Yes (shared bus)
Error Detection	Optional parity	None built‑in	ACK/NACK
Power	Low	Moderate	Low
Range	Short to medium	Short	Short

When to Use Each Protocol

Choose UART When:

• Debugging and development: Serial monitors, console output

• Simple point-to-point communication: GPS modules, Bluetooth modules

• Human-readable data: AT commands, text-based protocols

• Legacy compatibility: Many older devices still use UART

Real-world example: Connecting a GPS module to your microcontroller for location data. The GPS sends NMEA sentences over UART - simple, reliable, and easy to parse.

Minimal point‑to‑point block diagram for UART.

Choose SPI When:

• High-speed data transfer: SD cards, flash memory, high-resolution displays

• Real-time applications: ADCs, DACs where timing matters

• Deterministic timing: No clock stretching or arbitration delays

• Simple master-slave relationships: Clear hierarchy needed

Real-world example: Reading data from a high-speed accelerometer for a drone's flight controller. SPI's speed and deterministic timing ensure your control loop gets fresh data every cycle.

Multi‑slave SPI daisy chain. Highlights the extra chip‑select lines and full‑duplex paths.

Choose I2C When:

• Multiple sensors on one bus: Temperature, humidity, pressure sensors

• Limited GPIO pins: Microcontrollers with few available pins

• Standard peripherals: EEPROMs, RTCs, I/O expanders

• Modular systems: Easy to add/remove devices

Real-world example: A smart home sensor node with temperature, humidity, light, and motion sensors. All can share the same I2C bus with unique addresses, saving precious GPIO pins.

Master‑multi‑slave bus with pull‑ups

Common Gotchas to Avoid

UART Pitfalls:

• Baud rate mismatches: Both sides must agree on speed

• No flow control: Data can be lost if receiver is busy

• Ground loops: Always connect grounds in longer connections

SPI Gotchas:

• No addressing: Each slave needs its own chip select line

• Clock polarity/phase: CPOL and CPHA must match between master and slave

• No error detection: You won't know if data was corrupted

I2C Traps:

• Clock stretching: Slaves can slow down the bus unexpectedly

• Address conflicts: Two devices can't share the same address

• Pull-up resistors: Required but often forgotten or wrong value

• Bus capacitance: Long wires or many devices can cause signal integrity issues

Real-World Design Decisions

Let's look at how these protocols might be used in a typical IoT device:

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Sensor hub topology: one MCU talks I²C to sensing and time-keeping chips, SPI to an SD card, and UART to a Wi-Fi module.

Smart Environmental Monitor:

• I2C: Temperature/humidity sensor, RTC, EEPROM (shared bus, standard parts)

• SPI: SD card for data logging (high speed for large files)

• UART: WiFi module communication (AT commands, simple interface)

Industrial Data Logger:

• SPI: Multiple high-speed ADCs (deterministic timing critical)

• I2C: Configuration EEPROM, status LEDs via I/O expander

• UART: Debug console, optional cellular modem

Industrial data-logger bus layout: SPI for fast ADCs, I²C for housekeeping, UART for debug and cellular back-haul.

Making the Right Choice

When deciding between protocols, ask yourself:

1. How fast does my data need to be? SPI for speed, I2C for moderate, UART for simple.

2. How many devices do I need to connect? I2C excels at multi-device, SPI needs more pins, UART is point-to-point only.

3. How many GPIO pins can I spare? I2C uses fewest, SPI scales with device count.

4. Do I need error detection? I2C has built-in ACK/NACK, others require additional layers.

5. What's my power budget? All three are relatively low power, but I2C and UART edge out SPI.

The Bottom Line

There's no "best" protocol - only the right tool for your specific job. UART excels at simplicity and debugging, SPI dominates when speed matters, and I2C shines for multi-device systems with limited pins.

The key is understanding your project's requirements and constraints. Need to connect five sensors with minimal wiring? I2C is your friend. Building a high-speed data acquisition system? SPI is the way to go. Just need simple, reliable communication? UART has been solving that problem for decades.

Remember, you're not limited to just one protocol per project. The best embedded systems often use all three, each handling the tasks they're optimized for.

What's your go-to protocol for embedded projects? Have you run into any interesting challenges with UART, SPI, or I2C? I'd love to hear about your experiences in the comments below.

The CHIPS Act Revolution: What It Means for U.S. Electronics Manufacturing in 2025

As a U.S.-based electronics manufacturer, the $52.7 billion CHIPS Act isn't just policy—it's a game-changer that's reshaping our industry. Here's what every engineer and hardware developer needs to know.

• $39B in manufacturing incentives

• 25% tax credit for semiconductor investments

• Expected supply chain improvements by 2026

• New opportunities for U.S.-based hardware startups

What’s the Big Deal with the CHIPS Act?

If you work in electronics manufacturing or hardware development, you’ve probably felt the pain of chip shortages over the last few years. Whether it was waiting months for an MCU, dealing with skyrocketing prices, or scrambling to redesign a PCB around an alternative part, supply chain issues have been a headache for everyone.

That’s where the CHIPS and Science Act comes in. Passed in 2022, this $52.7 billion investment is the U.S. government’s attempt to bring semiconductor production back home, making the industry more resilient and less dependent on overseas fabs.

But what does this mean for engineers, startups, and manufacturers? Is this just another government initiative with no real impact, or will it actually change how we build electronics in the U.S.? Let’s break it down.

Why Was the CHIPS Act Even Necessary?

Back in the 1990s, the U.S. made nearly 40% of the world’s semiconductors. Fast forward to today, and that number has dropped to 12%—while countries like Taiwan, China, and South Korea have taken over the market.

This shift didn’t happen overnight. It was the result of:

• Outsourcing for lower costs – Companies moved production offshore to stay competitive.

• Massive government subsidies overseas – Taiwan and China heavily funded their semiconductor industries, while the U.S. didn’t.

• Supply chain risks getting ignored – Until the pandemic, most companies didn’t think twice about where their chips came from.

Then COVID-19 hit, demand skyrocketed, and supply chains collapsed. Car companies halted production, electronics manufacturers scrambled for parts, and even defense contractors struggled to get the chips they needed.

The U.S. realized it had a major problem—so it decided to do something about it.

What’s in the CHIPS Act?

The CHIPS Act is basically a giant stimulus package for semiconductor manufacturing and research in the U.S. Here’s where the money is going:

1. $39 Billion in Manufacturing Incentives

• Funding to build new semiconductor fabs in the U.S.

• Grants and tax breaks for companies investing in domestic production.

• Major chipmakers like Intel, TSMC, Samsung, and Micron are already planning new facilities in states like Arizona, Texas, and Ohio.

2. $13.2 Billion for Research & Development

• Establishing the National Semiconductor Technology Center (NSTC) to push innovation.

• Funding workforce training programs to grow the number of engineers and technicians in the semiconductor industry.

• Investing in next-gen chip technologies like AI accelerators, RISC-V processors, and ultra-low-power semiconductors.

3. 25% Tax Credit for Semiconductor Investments

• If a company spends money on chip manufacturing or equipment in the U.S., they get a 25% tax break—which could be a big deal for growing businesses.

4. $2 Billion for Defense & Critical Industries

• Ensuring that military, aerospace, and high-tech industries have access to secure, U.S.-made chips.

How Will This Actually Impact Electronics Manufacturing?

1. More Chips, Fewer Supply Chain Nightmares

One of the biggest issues in electronics manufacturing has been long lead times for essential components. With more U.S. fabs coming online, we could see:

• Shorter wait times for processors, microcontrollers, and FPGAs.

• Fewer disruptions from international conflicts or trade restrictions.

• More stable pricing over time, as local production increases supply.

Right now, we’re still a few years away from seeing the full effects, but the investment is a step in the right direction.

2. More Opportunities for Startups & Small Manufacturers

If you’re a startup working on AI chips, IoT devices, or custom hardware, this could be huge. The CHIPS Act includes funding for:

• R&D grants to support new chip designs.

• Partnerships with new U.S.-based fabs to get prototypes made faster.

• Tax breaks that could lower production costs for small to mid-size hardware companies.

For years, many small hardware startups had no choice but to outsource manufacturing to China or Taiwan. With this new investment, it might finally make financial sense to keep production local.

3. More Onshore PCB Assembly & Electronics Manufacturing

Even though the CHIPS Act is focused on semiconductors, it will ripple across the entire electronics industry. As more chips are made in the U.S., we could see:

• More domestic PCB manufacturing options.

• Stronger local supply chains for parts and components.

• More U.S.-based contract manufacturers expanding their capabilities.

This could be a game-changer for companies that want to proudly label their products “Made in the USA” without blowing their budgets.

4. More Jobs & Higher Demand for Engineers

With billions pouring into semiconductor manufacturing, companies will need more skilled workers to design, test, and build these chips.

• Electrical engineers, embedded developers, and FPGA designers will be in high demand.

• More apprenticeships and training programs will open up for engineers looking to get into the semiconductor space.

• Long-term career growth in fields like AI chip design, high-performance computing, and custom ASIC development.

The Challenges & Unanswered Questions

Not everyone is convinced that the CHIPS Act is a silver bullet. Here are a few big concerns:

• Fabs Take Years to Build – We won’t see real results until at least 2026 or later.

• U.S. Labor Costs Are High – Even with incentives, U.S. production might still be more expensive than overseas manufacturing.

• Global Competition Isn’t Slowing Down – China, Taiwan, and South Korea are still heavily investing in their own semiconductor industries.

While the CHIPS Act is a good first step, it’s only one part of the equation. U.S. companies will still need to stay competitive through innovation, efficiency, and smart supply chain strategies.

So, What’s Next?

The CHIPS Act won’t fix everything overnight, but it does mark a major shift in how the U.S. approaches semiconductor manufacturing. Here’s what to watch for:

• More U.S.-based fabs coming online in the next 5-10 years.

• PCB manufacturers and contract assemblers expanding their capabilities to support the industry.

• More funding opportunities for startups working on next-gen chip designs.

• Growing job opportunities for engineers in the semiconductor space.

For anyone in hardware development, embedded systems, or electronics manufacturing, this is the perfect time to:

• Explore funding opportunities for R&D and prototyping.

• Build relationships with U.S. semiconductor fabs for long-term supply chain stability.

• Position your business to take advantage of “Made in the USA” incentives.

Final Thoughts

The CHIPS Act isn’t just a policy—it’s a game-changer for the future of electronics manufacturing in the U.S. While it has its challenges, it’s a big step toward making the supply chain more reliable, creating new opportunities for startups, and keeping innovation local.

What do you think? Will the CHIPS Act actually help the industry, or is it too little too late?