Submitted by Jan Samols on Thu, 06/07/2017 - 10:39
Raspberry Pi has won the UK’s top engineering innovation prize – the Royal Academy of Engineering MacRobert Award.
Known for spotting the 'next big thing’, the annual MacRobert Award is presented to the engineers behind the UK engineering profession's most exciting innovation.
Originally conceived as a way to boost computer science applications to the University of Cambridge, Raspberry Pi has created a whole new class of computer that has transformed the way engineers design control systems in industry.
The Pi has also proved phenomenally successful in its original educational ambition. Over 12 million devices have been sold in total, re-engaging people with the power of coding, and helping to ensure that future generations are equipped for the increasingly digital jobs of the future.
Dr Dame Sue Ion DBE FREng FRS, Chair of the MacRobert Award judging panel, said:
“All three of this year’s finalists demonstrate exceptional engineering, but what sets Raspberry Pi apart is the sheer quality of the innovation, which has allowed the computer to be used far beyond its original purpose. By blending old and new technology with innovative systems engineering and circuit board design, the team has created a computer that is cheap, robust, small and flexible. It is manufactured in the UK cheaper and at higher quality than elsewhere. Raspberry Pi’s original educational goal has actually resulted in a computer control system that can influence many different industries.
“Raspberry Pi has also inspired multiple generations to get into coding: children are learning about coding for the first time, often alongside their parents and grandparents. Communities in the developing world are being empowered by the Raspberry Pi and its modern day computing-on-a-budget.”
