Raspberry Pi has introduced the Pico 2 W, a tiny yet powerful microcontroller designed for building hardware projects at scale. The new board is built around the RP2350, Raspberry Pi's well-documented microcontroller, and offers a range of features that make it an attractive option for industrial and electronics manufacturing companies.

For those unfamiliar, microcontrollers are designed to interact with other electronic components or devices, unlike traditional Raspberry Pi computers, which are general-purpose single-board computers. Microcontrollers are typically cheap, small, and power-efficient, making them ideal for a wide range of applications.

The Pico 2 W features dozens of input and output pins, allowing it to communicate with other components. Hobbyists can start developing projects using a breadboard, avoiding the need for soldering, and later solder the microcontroller to other parts as needed. Unlike traditional Raspberry Pi computers, microcontrollers don't run a full-fledged operating system, with code running directly on the chip.

The Pico 2 W supports a range of programming languages, including C, C++, and MicroPython, a Python-inspired language for microcontrollers. The board retains hardware and software compatibility with previous generation boards, making it easy to integrate into existing projects.

In terms of specifications, the Pico 2 W features a dual-core, dual-architecture processor running at 150MHz, with users able to choose between Arm Cortex-M33 cores and open-hardware Hazard 3 RISC-V cores. The board also includes 4 MB of on-board flash memory and 520 KB of on-chip SRAM, making it a capable yet efficient option for industrial-scale projects.

Wireless capabilities are also included, with the Pico 2 W supporting Wi-Fi (2.4GHz 802.11n) and Bluetooth 5.2. While 5GHz support would have been a welcome addition, the current wireless capabilities should be sufficient for most applications. For those who don't require wireless features, Raspberry Pi offers the Pico 2 without wireless capabilities for $5.

Raspberry Pi's focus on industrial and electronics manufacturing companies is evident in the availability of individual units and 480-unit reels of the Pico 2 boards. This shift in focus is likely driven by the company's recent IPO, which revealed that the industrial and embedded segment represented 72% of its sales.

The Pico 2 W's affordable $7 price point and range of features make it an attractive option for companies looking to build hardware projects at scale. As Raspberry Pi continues to expand its presence in the industrial and electronics manufacturing sectors, the Pico 2 W is likely to play a key role in the company's future growth.

With the Pico 2 W, Raspberry Pi is further solidifying its position as a leader in the microcontroller market, offering a powerful and affordable solution for companies looking to build innovative hardware projects. As the industrial and electronics manufacturing sectors continue to evolve, it will be interesting to see how the Pico 2 W is used to drive innovation and growth.