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Robot systems often use a single-board computer (SBC) for demanding, higher-level computing and a controller for predictable hardware control—but they do not always need two separate boards. The right setup depends on the robot’s workload, timing needs, interfaces, power and thermal limits, and software support.
What is the difference between an SBC and a controller?
An SBC is a compact computer that can run a full operating system, such as Linux, and applications for perception, localization, mapping, navigation, or AI inference. Raspberry Pi describes its flagship SBCs as Linux computers with common ports, while its Pico boards are microcontrollers that do not run Linux and are suited to real-time control and lightweight embedded projects. See Raspberry Pi’s hardware documentation.
“Controller” can mean two different things. In software, a controller is a component that commands a robot subsystem; ROS 2 Control, for example, documents controllers for wheeled robots and manipulators. At the hardware level, the term may refer to a microcontroller or control board that interfaces with devices and runs control logic. These meanings are related, but they are not interchangeable: software controllers run within a software stack, while a microcontroller is a physical computing device.
A motor still needs suitable driver hardware and electrical connections. A microcontroller board is not automatically a motor driver, nor does an SBC’s presence establish that it can meet every motor-control timing or safety requirement.
#1 Best Overall
- Powerful Motor Integration: Onboard 3A motor driver directly controls (4 Servo + 4 Encoder Motors) or (4 Servo + 4 DC Motors). Docs: github.com/nulllaborg/maker-esp32-pro
- ESP32 IoT Core: Official ESP32-WROOM-32E module. Features a dual-core module with built-in 2.4GHz WiFi and Bluetooth (BLE) for powerful, low-latency wireless communication and IoT applications.
- Wide Voltage: Supports 6V-16V wide voltage input via DC port.
- Instant Expansion: Includes 5x I2C ports, 1x SPI ports, 13x GPIOs, allowing you to add sensors, OLED displays with ease.
- Application: Essential for robotics; no external shields required. Ideal for DIY your robots, smart cars.
Which robot workloads belong on an SBC?
Use the SBC to host workloads that benefit from an operating system, substantial software libraries, or more computing capacity. NVIDIA describes robotics applications including perception, localization, mapping, manipulation, teleoperation, and AI inference. Its Isaac ROS packages are optimized for NVIDIA platforms; its robotics overview also describes capabilities such as object detection, collision detection, navigation, and trajectory optimization on workstations and embedded Jetson systems. See NVIDIA Isaac ROS and NVIDIA’s robotics overview.
Perception and AI inference
Camera-based perception and inference can require significant compute and compatible software support. A Jetson developer kit is one example of an embedded platform intended for AI-powered applications and robotics projects. Choose a specific board only after checking the models’ workload requirements and supported software; the available documentation does not establish a universal best model or performance ranking.
Rank #2
- Powerful Motor Integration: Onboard 3.5A motor driver directly controls (4 Servo + 2 Stepper Motors) or (4 Servo + 4 DC Motors). Essential for robotics; no external shields required.
- ESP32 IoT Core: Official ESP32-WROOM-32E module. Features a dual-core module with built-in 2.4GHz WiFi and Bluetooth (BLE) for powerful, low-latency wireless communication and IoT applications.
- Wide Voltage: Supports 6V-16V wide voltage input via DC port.
- Instant Expansion: Includes 4x I2C ports, 8x GPIOs, and 4x onboard RGB LEDs, allowing you to add sensors, OLED displays, and status indicators with ease.
Localization, mapping, and navigation
These higher-level tasks can combine sensor data with planning and application logic. An SBC can host the relevant software, but the compute board alone does not guarantee a working system: sensors, drivers, bandwidth, software versions, and integration all matter.
System integration and connectivity
An SBC can also coordinate applications, communicate over a network, and support remote development or operation. Available ports and networking vary by model, so check the exact board’s specifications rather than assuming a particular wireless, Ethernet, USB, or camera connection is present.
Rank #3
- Based on the ESP32-WROOM-32 module, supports wireless communication such as WIFI, blutooth and ESP-NOW. Onboard motor control interfaces for 2x DC motor with encoder or 4x DC motor (2 groups) without encoder
- Onboard serial bus servos control interfaces for controlling up to 253 ST3215 serial bus servos and obtaining servos feedback. Onboard 9-axis IMU to obtain attitude and heading information at any time
- Supports 7~13V power input, and can be powered directly by 2S or 3S lithium battery module. Automatic download circuit for easy uploading programs. Support input voltage/current monitoring. Onboard TF card slot
- Onboard Laser Lidar interface and integrated UART to USB function. IIC interface for connecting peripherals such as OLED, IMU, and other IIC devices. Adapting Multi-functional extended header for additional functions, such as controlling servos or relays
- Onboard 40PIN GPIO header for connecting and powering the host computer (Raspberry Pi/Jetson Nano, etc), communicating via serial port or IIC. Provides open-source demos and detailed tutorials for beginners, easy to get started
What should a controller handle?
A controller handles the robot’s command path for a particular subsystem. In ROS 2 Control, controllers can serve wheeled mobile robots and manipulators, while broadcasters publish sensor data from hardware components to ROS topics. The ROS 2 Control controller documentation cited here is for Rolling, the development version; it points readers to Kilted for the latest released documentation. For a deployed robot, check documentation for the ROS release and hardware actually in use.
A separate microcontroller or control board may be useful when a task needs a dedicated control path or when the chosen sensors and actuators are better served by its interfaces. Whether separation is necessary depends on timing and integration requirements. The reviewed documentation establishes these different roles, not a rule that every robot needs two boards or that a particular SBC is suitable for every real-time task.
Rank #4
- Powerful Motor Integration: Onboard 3A motor driver directly controls (4 Servo + 4 Encoder Motors) or (4 Servo + 4 DC Motors). Docs: github.com/nulllaborg/maker-esp32-pro
- ESP32 IoT Core: Official ESP32-WROOM-32E module. Features a dual-core module with built-in 2.4GHz WiFi and Bluetooth (BLE) for powerful, low-latency wireless communication and IoT applications.
- Wide Voltage: Supports 6V-16V wide voltage input via DC port.
- Instant Expansion: Includes 5x I2C ports, 1x SPI ports, 13x GPIOs, allowing you to add sensors, OLED displays with ease.
- Application: Essential for robotics; no external shields required. Ideal for DIY your robots, smart cars.
How should you choose the compute and control setup?
Compare the complete robot system against its requirements rather than selecting a board by name alone.
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| Decision factor | What to verify |
|---|---|
| Workload | Whether the robot needs conventional ROS applications, computer vision, accelerated inference, mapping, navigation, or a combination. |
| Software support | Operating system, ROS 2 distribution, vendor acceleration support, drivers, and package requirements for the intended board. |
| Control timing | Which tasks are high-level planning and which require a dedicated or real-time control path. Validate against the actual robot’s timing requirements. |
| Interfaces | Required camera, lidar, IMU, motor-controller, GPIO, serial, USB, and network connections; confirm each device’s interface and software support. |
| Connectivity | Built-in Ethernet or wireless capability, adapter needs, and the intended way to access or manage the robot remotely. |
| Power and thermal limits | Power and heat for the compute board together with sensors and peripherals, not just the board in isolation. |
| Integration | Size, mounting, storage, serviceability, lifecycle, and budget for the specific build. |
How do Jetson and Pico fit into different roles?
A Jetson developer kit is an example to consider when the robot needs embedded compute for AI or other higher-level workloads and its software stack fits the project. NVIDIA’s materials describe Jetson as an embedded deployment platform, but do not establish a specific model, current price, measured performance, or universal suitability for all robots.
Best Value
- Compatible with multiple development boards: Compatible with Raspberry Pi Jetson series development boards, Sunflower Pi, industrial control board development boards, and also has multiple power supply interface outputs, providing stable power supply for DIY expansion boards.★★★Note: 3.0 compatible with raspberry Pi5/Jetson/RDK Series，Support Raspberry Pi 5 power supply protocol.
- Rich peripheral interfaces: The expansion board supports 4-way encoder motors, which can drive various vehicle types, such as mecanum wheels, four-wheel differentials, tracks, etc.; it also supports PWM servos and serial bus servos, which can adapt to various forms of robot arm development; it also supports USB serial communication, CAN bus communication, and SBUS bus communication.
- Multi-functional robot expansion board: The control board is equipped with a 9-axis IMU attitude sensor, which can obtain real-time posture information of the robot and is widely used in ROS robot kit development.
- Fully open source data: Provides basic peripheral driver routines written in STM32CUBEIDE, including driving encoder motors, PWM servos, serial bus servos, reading and solving 9-axis attitude sensor data, and controlling multiple communication interfaces; open hardware schematic, which is more user-friendly when used with the driver routines.
- Support 12V voltage input and multiple power supply interface output, refuse to use a safe and stable power supply system. Support ROS1 and ROS2
A Raspberry Pi Pico is a different kind of example: a microcontroller for real-time control or lightweight embedded tasks, not a Linux SBC. Whether it can serve a particular control role depends on the robot’s interface and software requirements, and it still does not replace the appropriate motor driver. Neither example is a complete, validated bill of materials for a robot.
Quick Recap
What should you check before connecting sensors and motors?
- Camera and perception sensor: Confirm the physical interface, driver and software support, bandwidth, and power needs for the selected compute board. A sensor’s general role in perception does not guarantee compatibility with a particular board.
- Other sensors: Check connections and data support for devices such as lidar and IMUs, along with the way their readings will reach the robot’s software.
- Motor hardware: Identify the motor controller or driver, electrical requirements, and control interface. Do not assume an SBC or microcontroller can drive a motor directly.
- Software versions: Verify the supported operating system, ROS 2 distribution, vendor packages, and hardware drivers as a set. Treat Rolling documentation as development documentation, not a stable deployment recommendation.
- Power budget: Include the board, sensors, and peripherals. Raspberry Pi’s setup documentation gives Raspberry Pi 5 as an example: it recommends 5 V at 5 A at the plug and says a 5 V at 3 A supply limits peripherals to 600 mA. Those figures apply to Raspberry Pi 5, not to SBCs generally; check the current Raspberry Pi setup documentation for the exact board.
- Network access: Check the board’s available networking and plan for any required adapter or remote-management setup.
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