Raspberry Pi is a single-board small computer originally used as a tool to teach computer science to students. It has since grown in popularity due to its compact size, low cost, modularity and open design.
Because of its limited computing power, the Raspberry Pi will not replace the regular PC in many areas. However, with its compact size, flexible I/O interfaces, low cost and built-in support for Python, it is an ideal platform to automate a lab test bench or a manufacturing test rack to control the instruments, capture waveform data and measurement results, and act as a hub to manage data from the instruments or remote access of the instruments.
This application note shows how to quickly set up a Raspberry Pi to automate a Tektronix 2 Series MSO Mixed Signal Oscilloscope and configure the instrument to control it remotely.