CAN Bus (Controller Area Network) is an essential protocol in automotive, industrial, and embedded systems. Its robustness, real-time capabilities, and multi-master structure make it the go-to solution for everything from vehicle diagnostics to robotic motion control.

Two popular platforms for CAN Bus development are the Raspberry Pi and the Arduino Due. Copperhill Technologies supports both platforms with professional-grade hardware:

• ✅ PiCAN3 CAN Bus HAT for Raspberry Pi 4

• ✅ Dual CAN Bus Interface for Arduino Due

This post explores the technical differences, advantages, and trade-offs between these two platforms, guiding hobbyists, students, and engineers toward the best fit for their CAN-based projects.

Hardware Architecture

Raspberry Pi + PiCAN3

The PiCAN3 board is a hardware add-on (HAT) that mounts directly on top of the Raspberry Pi 4. It provides a single high-speed CAN Bus channel using the MCP2515 CAN controller and MCP2551 transceiver, interfacing via SPI.

Key Features:

• Powered by 5V through Pi header or DB9

• Optional onboard GPS module and RTC (ideal for time-stamped logging)

• SocketCAN-compatible

• Comes with screw terminals, DB9 connector, and power jumper settings

• Easily integrates with WiFi, Bluetooth, and internet/cloud platforms via Raspberry Pi

Use Case: Build a portable CAN-to-cloud logger, remote fleet diagnostics tool, or an educational CAN Bus simulator.

Arduino Due + Dual CAN Bus Interface

The Arduino Due is powered by an Atmel SAM3X8E Cortex-M3, a 32-bit microcontroller that includes two native CAN controllers. Copperhill Technologies’ Dual CAN Interface board enables access to both channels via onboard transceivers (SN65HVD230 or equivalent).

Key Features:

• Two independent CAN channels (CAN0 and CAN1)

• High-speed CAN up to 1 Mbps

• Optional prototyping area on the shield

• No external CAN controller needed (unlike PiCAN3)

• Works with FlexCAN, CANopen, or custom protocols

Use Case: Develop a real-time embedded controller, automotive ECU prototype, or CAN-to-CAN gateway.

Operating System vs No OS

Raspberry Pi: Linux-Based (Raspberry Pi OS)

• Full Linux OS with multitasking, networking, file system

• Built-in SocketCAN stack: the de facto standard for CAN on Linux

• You can run multiple applications simultaneously (e.g., CAN logger + Python dashboard + MQTT client)

• Common tools: candump, cansend, can-utils, Wireshark with CAN plugin

Arduino Due: Bare-Metal Microcontroller

• No OS — code runs directly on the CPU with no abstraction layers

• Deterministic response times (ideal for hard real-time tasks)

• Full control of CAN bus timing, filtering, interrupts

• All code written in C/C++ using Arduino IDE or Atmel Studio

• You must manage memory and timing manually

⚙️ Software Development Stack

⚡ Performance and Real-Time Behavior

Use Cases by Application Type

User Profiles & Skill Levels

Integration & Connectivity

Raspberry Pi Strengths:

• Internet connectivity (Ethernet, WiFi, 4G)

• Cloud logging (InfluxDB, MQTT, Node-RED)

• File system support for SD card logging

• Easy remote SSH access

• HDMI display for graphical dashboards

Arduino Due Strengths:

• Lower power consumption

• Real-time behavior

• Smaller physical footprint (when integrated in embedded designs)

• CAN-to-CAN bridging or filtering applications

• Better suited for automotive power supply ranges (12V/24V)

CAN Bus Communication: SocketCAN vs Direct Register Control

• SocketCAN (Linux-based) abstracts the CAN Bus like a network socket. This allows developers to use tools like candump, canplayer, and cangen with minimal setup.

• Arduino Due allows direct manipulation of the CAN controller registers — perfect for precise bit timing, message filtering, and error handling. However, it requires deeper knowledge of the CAN protocol and Atmel’s CAN hardware.

Project Ideas for Each Platform

Raspberry Pi + PiCAN3

• CAN Bus data logger with GPS time stamps

• Remote fleet diagnostics system

• OBD-II logger with a web dashboard

• CAN gateway to MQTT for cloud telemetry

• Traffic monitor for autonomous vehicle research

Arduino Due + Dual CAN

• In-vehicle ECU prototype for motors or sensors

• CANopen slave node emulator

• Real-time CAN-to-CAN bridge with message filtering

• Battery management system (BMS) communication node

• Custom CAN messaging for robotic actuators

Product Links (Copperhill Technologies)

• PiCAN3 CAN Bus HAT for Raspberry Pi 4

• Dual CAN Bus Interface for Arduino Due

Copperhill Technologies also provides sample code, documentation, and technical support for both products, making them ideal for both prototyping and deployment.

Final Thoughts

Summary

The Raspberry Pi with PiCAN3 excels in data logging, connectivity, and rapid prototyping with Linux and Python. It's ideal for developers who need a flexible development environment and integration with the internet or cloud services.

The Arduino Due with Dual CAN Interface is best for real-time control, low-level communication, and embedded CAN nodes. It’s a powerful option for engineers building deterministic systems or multi-CAN gateways.

Both are fantastic tools — the best platform depends on your use case, technical skills, and project requirements.

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