# Embedded Hardware with the Raspberry Pi Team

- Show: [The Amp Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour)
- Published: 2021-02-08
- Length: 1h 23m
- Episode: 529
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2021-02-08-embedded-hardware-with-the-raspberry-pi-team
- Listen: https://theamphour.com/529-embedded-hardware-with-the-raspberry-pi-team/

## Summary

James Adams, Liam Fraser, and Luke Renn from Raspberry Pi Trading discuss the development of the RP2040 microcontroller and the Pico board. They explain the architectural decisions behind the chip, including the use of programmable IO (PIO) state machines, the choice of Cortex-M0+ cores, and the strategic decision to use external flash to maximize SRAM and minimize cost. The conversation also covers the company's flat engineering culture, their low-cost manufacturing strategy, and the integration of the Compute Module 4 (CM4) into industrial applications.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2021-02-08-embedded-hardware-with-the-raspberry-pi-team#t=0) Introduction and Company Structure
- [2:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2021-02-08-embedded-hardware-with-the-raspberry-pi-team#t=125) RP2040 Genesis and Design Goals
- [5:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2021-02-08-embedded-hardware-with-the-raspberry-pi-team#t=305) Pico Board Design and Cost Engineering
- [6:44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2021-02-08-embedded-hardware-with-the-raspberry-pi-team#t=404) Programmable IO (PIO) Architecture
- [10:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2021-02-08-embedded-hardware-with-the-raspberry-pi-team#t=604) Software Ecosystem and MicroPython
- [12:39](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2021-02-08-embedded-hardware-with-the-raspberry-pi-team#t=759) Engineering Culture and Team Structure
- [15:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2021-02-08-embedded-hardware-with-the-raspberry-pi-team#t=948) Manufacturing, Pricing, and Supply Chain
- [32:32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2021-02-08-embedded-hardware-with-the-raspberry-pi-team#t=1952) Silicon Architecture: Flash vs. SRAM
- [38:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2021-02-08-embedded-hardware-with-the-raspberry-pi-team#t=2314) Compute Module 4 and Industrial Applications
- [44:25](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2021-02-08-embedded-hardware-with-the-raspberry-pi-team#t=2665) Future Roadmap and Broadcom Partnership

## Topics

- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Chips, FPGAs & semiconductors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/chips-and-fpgas)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- RP2040 (chip)
- Pico (product)
- Compute Module 4 (product)
- MicroPython (tool)
- CircuitPython (tool)
- Arduino (company)
- SparkFun (company)
- Adafruit (company)
- Raspberry Pi 4 (product)
- Broadcom (company)
- OpenOCD (tool)
- J-Link (tool)
- WS2812 (product)
- RISC-V (chip)
- Zephyr (tool)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Ep102: Raspberry Pi Microcontroller, Microphone Killswitch, and a 45-Degree 3D-Printer](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2021-01-22-ep102-raspberry-pi-microcontroller-microphone-killswitch-and-a-45-degree-3d-prin) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [Electromaker Interview: Eben Upton - Raspberry Pi creator!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-electromaker-show/2022-07-05-electromaker-interview-eben-upton-raspberry-pi-creator) (The Electromaker Show)
- [Documentation as Code: A chat with Alasdair Allan from Raspberry Pi](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-electromaker-show/2022-07-21-documentation-as-code-a-chat-with-alasdair-allan-from-raspberry-pi) (The Electromaker Show)
- [Ep 221: The Future of the Raspberry Pi, Sniffing a Toothbrush, Your Tactical Tool Threshold](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2023-06-02-ep-221-the-future-of-the-raspberry-pi-sniffing-a-toothbrush-your-tactical-tool-t) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [Cheapest 32-bit MCU, Pi Pico Special, Retro Computer Wifi, and More!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-electromaker-show/2023-02-08-cheapest-32-bit-mcu-pi-pico-special-retro-computer-wifi-and-more) (The Electromaker Show)

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