Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W – Quad Core 64 bit | Built-in WiFi & Bluetooth

The Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W is an incredibly powerful, tiny computer roughly the size of a stick of chewing gum. For a robotics student, this is often the perfect choice for smaller robots because it balances power with size.

Here are the details you need to know before buying:

                        Technical Specifications (The Power):

Processor: Quad-core 64-bit ARM Cortex-A53 (1GHz).     

 Note: This is the same architecture as the Raspberry Pi 3, meaning it is 5x faster than the original Pi Zero.

RAM: 512MB LPDDR2 SDRAM.

Connectivity (Built-in): 

• Wi-Fi: 2.4GHz 802.11 b/g/n (Essential for controlling your robot wirelessly).

• Bluetooth: 4.2 / BLE (Great for connecting game controllers to drive the robot).

Ports:

1x Mini HDMI (Video out).

1x Micro USB (Data/OTG).

1x Micro USB (Power).

1x CSI Camera Connector (Smaller form factor than the big Pi; you need a specific ribbon cable).

                           Why Use This for Robotics?

Small Footprint: It fits easily inside small robot chassis where a big Raspberry Pi 4 or 5 won't fit.

Low Power Consumption: It runs much longer on a battery compared to a Pi 4.

AI Capable: It is powerful enough to run basic computer vision (like OpenCV) to track lines or faces, though slower than a Pi 4.

IMPORTANT: You Need Specific Adapters

Because the board is so small, it uses smaller ports than a normal computer. You cannot plug standard USB or HDMI cables directly into it. You must buy:

Mini HDMI to Standard HDMI Adapter: To connect it to a monitor.

Micro USB OTG (On-The-Go) Cable: To convert the small port to a standard USB port (so you can plug in a keyboard/mouse).

Camera Adapter Cable: If you buy a standard Raspberry Pi Camera, the ribbon cable will be too wide. You need a "Zero Camera Cable" (usually gold/yellow colored).

4. Technical Specifications (Table Format)