Automotive Electronic Applications of CAN Protocol

 

The Electronic Control Units (ECUs) found in modern automobiles use a message-based protocol called the Controller Area Network (CAN) bus to communicate with one another in a dependable and priority-driven manner. 

 

It is unnecessary to have a host computer for all network devices to receive the messages or "frames” between components. A comprehensive collection of international standards under the umbrella of ISO 11898 regulates the CAN bus protocol.

 

What Is the CAN File Definition?

CAN FD is the "Flexible Data (Rate)" variant of the CAN bus. The maximum data rate has also been raised, going from 1 megabit per second (Mbps) to 8 Mbps. The standard length of each message has also been increased by 800%, taking it to 64 bytes. The term "flexible" refers to the capability of electronic control units (ECUs) to dynamically modify their transmission rates and choose larger or smaller message sizes according to the needs of the real-time system.

 

Applications That Are Commonly Run Over the CAN Bus

Applications for CAN are most common in the automotive and motor vehicle industries; nevertheless, this is not an exhaustive list of possible uses for the protocol. The CAN protocol finds use in the following domains:

 

• Every vehicle imaginable, including motorcycles, cars, and trucks
• Telematics for heavy-duty vehicle fleets
• Airplanes
• Elevators
• Various types of manufacturing facilities.
• Ships
• Medical equipment
• Systems for predictive upkeep and maintenance
• Home appliances such as washing machines, dryers, and other similar appliances.

 

The Automotive Industry and CAN protocol

 

Henry Ford installed lights and an electric horn in his automobiles. The electricity flowed from the batteries through the switches to the light. By the 1960s, every automobile had thousands of thick wires running throughout its interior. Every extra kilogram results in a decrease in the vehicle’s overall fuel economy.

 

As a result of the oil embargoes that occurred in the 1970s, there was a growing amount of pressure placed on the makers of automobiles to improve their vehicles' fuel efficiency. Original Equipment Manufacturers began looking for ways to minimise the overall weight of their vehicles.

 

As a result, the OEMs began designing the "Controller Area Network" in partnership with the vehicle manufacturer Mercedes-Benz, the semiconductor giant Intel®, and numerous institutions in Germany.

 

At the SAE Congress held in Detroit in 1986, Bosch was the first company to present the CAN standard. A year later, Intel Corporation started shipping the first CAN controller chips, which forever altered the operation of the vehicle industry. In retrospect, the weight reductions accomplished directly from CAN creation were a happy accident, but they were pretty accurate.

 

Advantages of CAN Protocol

 

• ECUs communicate through a single CAN system rather than via direct, complex analogue signal lines. Lowering errors and wire expenses and cost savings. In addition, chipsets that use the CAN protocol are easily accessible and inexpensive.

 

•    Fully Centralized: The CAN bus offers a single point of entry for communication with network ECUs, enabling centralised diagnostics, data logging, and setup.

 

•   Resilient: The system is resistant to electromagnetic interference making it an excellent choice for automotive electronics applications that must adhere to strict safety standards.

Conclusion

The CAN frame are prioritised based on their ID numbers, making them efficient. The data with the highest priority are given quick access to the bus without disrupting the other frames.

• Reduced Vehicle Weight: This was accomplished by doing away with long, heavily insulated electrical lines.
• Easy deployment with a comprehensive support environment.
• CAN is a great choice for critical automotive car applications since it is resistant to EMP.

 

Sign up for Skill-Lync's PG program in embedded engineering to learn more about CAN protocol and its deployment in automotive applications. All our courses are mentor-led, and we design our courses with input from industry experts. Our industry-oriented projects train students in domain-specific skills and software applications. Our on-demand expert assistance helps students resolve their questions promptly. We also offer placement assistance to our students to ensure they realise their engineering dream. 

 

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