Computers and smartphones are becoming more powerful every year.
So I've been thinking about a simple question:
Why do we still need small microcontrollers like Arduino, ESP8266, and ESP32?
Compared with a computer, a microcontroller has very limited processing power and memory. Yet they are used everywhere in IoT and embedded systems.
One reason is that most embedded applications don't need a powerful computer. A device might only need to read a sensor, control a motor, switch a relay, or send some data over Wi-Fi.
Microcontrollers are also small, inexpensive, and consume much less power.
But with Edge AI and edge computing becoming more popular, devices are getting more capable.
So I'm curious about the future:
Will microcontrollers continue to become more powerful and capable, or will more powerful processors eventually replace them in many embedded applications?
I'd like to hear what others working with IoT and embedded systems think.
Top comments (1)
I think microcontrollers will still be useful in the future. They are small, low-cost, and use less power. ESP32 and similar boards are good for many IoT projects. Edge AI can make them more powerful, but microcontrollers will still have an important role.