Raspberry Pi vs Arduino: Which Is Better for Building a DIY Drone?

April 24, 2025 debswarnadeep85@gmail.com

When it comes to building your own DIY drone in 2025, choosing the right microcontroller or microprocessor is more important than ever. With advancements in technology and growing interest in personal drone projects, makers are often caught in the debate: Raspberry Pi vs Arduino—which platform should you choose?

Both Raspberry Pi and Arduino have become household names in the maker community. Each has unique strengths, and your choice can significantly impact your drone’s capabilities, performance, and ease of development. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll dive deep into the pros, cons, and ideal use cases for both platforms to help you make an informed decision for your drone project.

Whether you’re a beginner looking to get your first quadcopter in the air or an experienced builder aiming for advanced automation and AI features, this guide will help you determine which platform—Raspberry Pi or Arduino—best suits your 2025 drone ambitions.

What Are Raspberry Pi and Arduino?

Before we jump into drone-specific analysis, let’s get familiar with the two platforms:

What is a Raspberry Pi?

Raspberry Pi is a credit-card-sized computer that runs a full-fledged Linux operating system. It’s essentially a mini PC capable of multitasking, web browsing, and running Python or C++ code. Its GPIO pins also allow you to connect various sensors and hardware.

What is Arduino?

Arduino, on the other hand, is a microcontroller that executes one program at a time. It doesn’t run an OS, making it fast and simple for low-level control tasks like managing motors or sensors. Ideal for real-time applications.

Raspberry Pi vs Arduino for DIY Drone Projects

Let’s dive deeper into how both perform when it comes to drone applications.

Processing Power

Raspberry Pi offers quad-core processors with up to 8GB of RAM. It can process camera data, run AI models, and support complex algorithms—perfect for autonomous drones.

Arduino, being a microcontroller, has limited memory and processing capacity. It can handle basic drone stabilization and motor control but struggles with high-level tasks.

Winner: Raspberry Pi

Ease of Programming

Raspberry Pi supports multiple programming languages like Python, C++, and JavaScript. You can use libraries such as OpenCV for object tracking or TensorFlow Lite for AI.

Arduino uses the C-based Arduino IDE, which is beginner-friendly. Its simplicity makes it great for quick builds.

Winner: Tie — Raspberry Pi for advanced tasks, Arduino for simple builds.

Power Consumption

Power efficiency is critical in drones.

Arduino consumes very little power, often under 50 mA. Raspberry Pi, with all its computing power, can consume up to 700 mA or more, draining your drone’s battery faster.

Winner: Arduino

Sensor Integration & Real-Time Control

Both boards can connect to sensors like gyroscopes, GPS modules, and accelerometers.

Arduino’s lack of an OS gives it an edge in real-time motor and sensor control. Raspberry Pi requires more tuning and isn’t truly real-time.

Winner: Arduino

Connectivity & Camera Support

Raspberry Pi has built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and supports camera modules—making it perfect for FPV drones or AI-based object detection.

Arduino requires external shields or modules for networking and has no native camera support.

Winner: Raspberry Pi

Community and Resources

Both platforms have massive communities. However, Raspberry Pi has gained more popularity in recent years for complex drone builds due to its versatility.

You’ll find detailed tutorials, YouTube videos, and GitHub projects on both platforms.

Winner: Tie

Cost Comparison: Raspberry Pi vs Arduino in 2025

Component	Raspberry Pi 4 (2GB)	Arduino Uno
Price	₹3,500 – ₹4,500	₹1,000 – ₹1,500
Accessories (GPS, ESC, etc.)	₹4,000 – ₹6,000	₹3,000 – ₹4,000
Total Drone Build Cost	₹8,500 – ₹10,500	₹5,000 – ₹8,000

If you’re tight on budget and only need basic functionality, Arduino wins. But for camera drones or autonomy, Raspberry Pi justifies the extra cost.

Real-World DIY Drone Projects

1. Raspberry Pi Drone with Camera and Object Tracking

Tools: Raspberry Pi 4, PiCam, OpenCV
Features: FPV streaming, AI tracking
Cost: Around ₹10,000

2. Arduino-Based Quadcopter

Tools: Arduino Uno, MPU6050, ESCs, Brushless motors
Features: Stable flight, low cost
Cost: ₹6,000

When to Use Raspberry Pi vs Arduino in Drone Projects?

Feature	Best Choice
Low cost	Arduino
FPV or camera	Raspberry Pi
Real-time control	Arduino
AI or automation	Raspberry Pi
Beginner-friendly	Arduino

Final Verdict

So, Raspberry Pi vs Arduino: Which is better for building a DIY drone? It depends on what kind of drone you’re building.

Choose Arduino if:
- You’re building your first drone
- Your focus is on flight stability and budget
- Real-time control is a priority
Choose Raspberry Pi if:
- You want to build an FPV drone
- You’re integrating a camera or AI
- You need Linux-based multitasking

Both platforms are excellent in their own right. The key is knowing your goals.

FAQs

Q1. Can I use both Raspberry Pi and Arduino in one drone?

Yes! Many advanced drones use Raspberry Pi as the brain and Arduino for motor control.

Q2. Is Raspberry Pi too heavy for a drone?

No, it’s lightweight enough for most mid-sized drone frames.

Q3. Which one is easier for beginners?

Arduino, due to its simplicity and low power needs.

Q4. Which is more suitable for FPV drones?

Raspberry Pi, because it supports camera input and streaming.

🔗 External Resources

Want to Dive into Other Trending Tech Topics in 2025?

Explore more of our expert-written guides and insights