Group assignment
This year in our fablab, students mainly used 2 types of microcontroller for various projects. These are the XIAO RP2040 and the XIAO ESP32-C3.
XIAO ESP32-C3
An overview of the XIAO ESP32-C3
The XIAO ESP32 has architecture based on the Xtensa LX6 dual-core processor, which provides higher processing power. The ESP32 is known for its built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, making it ideal for IoT applications that require wireless communication. It also offers a wide range of peripherals, including GPIO, I2C, SPI, and UART, making it highly versatile. The ESP32 ecosystem is well-established, with a vast community and extensive documentation.
You can find more information here
XIAO RP2040
An overview of the XIAO RP2040
The RP2040, developed by Raspberry Pi, features a dual-core ARM Cortex-M0+ processor. It is specifically designed for low-cost microcontroller applications and offers high-performance computing capabilities. The RP2040 stands out for its Programmable I/O (PIO) subsystem, which allows for custom waveform generation and timing-sensitive tasks. It supports various interfaces, including SPI, I2C, and UART, and also offers a dedicated USB 1.1 controller.
You can find more information here
The table below is a comparision between the two boards that ar currently being used by the students in our Lab this year
| Item | XIAO RP2040 | XIAO ESP 32 |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | RP2040 Dual-core M0+@133Mhz | ESP32-C3 32-bit RISC-V @160MHz |
| Wireless Connectivity | N/A | WiFi and Bluetooth 5 (LE) |
| Memory | 264KB SRAM 2MB onboard Flash | 400KB SRAM |
| Built-in Sensors | N/A | N/A |
| Interfaces | I2C/UART/SPI/I2S | I2C/UART/SPI |
| PWM/Analog Pins | 11/4 | 11/4 |
| Onboard Buttons | Reset/ Boot Button | Reset/ Boot Button |
| Onboard LEDs | Charge LED | Full-color RGB/ 3-in-one LED |
| Battery Charge Chip | 2Built-in | N/A |
| Programming Languages | Arduino | Arduino/ MicroPython/ CircuitPython Arduino/ MicroPython/ CircuitPython |
In summary, the XIAO RP2040 is ideal for simple applications without the need for wireless connectivity, thanks to its two ARM Cortex-M0+ cores, good computing power and above all its unique PIO subsystem, while the XIAO ESP32 C3, with its 32-bit RISC-V core and Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capabilities, is perfect for IoT projects requiring wireless connectivity and more memory.