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Why CAN Bus Refuses to Die: What CAN FD and CAN XL Reveal About the Strength of Classical CAN
For more than 25 years, I have been working with CAN (Controller Area Network) technology. During that time, I have lost count of how many times industry experts, analysts, and technology journalists predicted its imminent demise. First, it was Ethernet. Then came FlexRay. Later, it was Automotive Ethernet. More recently, CAN FD and now CAN XL have been presented [...]
CANPico V2 with Pico WH Pre-Installed: Powerful CAN Bus Development in an Ultra-Compact Form Factor
When developing CAN Bus applications, engineers often face a familiar challenge: balancing processing power, development speed, hardware complexity, and physical size. The CANPico V2 with Raspberry Pi Pico WH pre-installed solves all four challenges in a remarkably compact package. Combining the powerful Raspberry Pi Pico WH with a sophisticated CAN interface, the CANPico V2 provides an [...]
LIN Bus Development Made Easy: Integrating Automotive LIN Networks with Any UART-Based Embedded System
Modern automobiles contain dozens of electronic control units (ECUs) that communicate with each other to manage everything from engine performance to seat adjustments. While high-speed networks such as CAN Bus handle critical vehicle functions, many automotive subsystems rely on a simpler and less expensive communication technology: the Local Interconnect Network, better known as LIN Bus. For [...]
Building NMEA 2000 Devices Has Never Been Easier: Meet the Teensy 4.0 with IPS LCD and NMEA 2000 Connector
Developing NMEA 2000 devices often involves a frustrating combination of custom hardware, display integration, network connectivity, and endless testing. Many engineers and hobbyists spend more time wiring components together than actually developing their applications. The Teensy 4.0 with NMEA 2000 Connector and 240×240 IPS LCD changes that equation completely. By combining a powerful microcontroller, integrated NMEA [...]
Monitoring OBD-II Data Traffic with Raspberry Pi and PiCAN2: A Smart Platform for Vehicle Diagnostics Development
Modern vehicles generate a tremendous amount of diagnostic information through their onboard networks. Whether you're an automotive engineer, software developer, fleet manager, researcher, or simply an enthusiast interested in vehicle data, monitoring OBD-II traffic can provide valuable insights into engine performance, fuel economy, emissions systems, and much more. One of the most practical and cost-effective ways [...]
ESP32-S3 CAN-Bus Board with NMEA 2000 Connector: A Powerful Platform for Marine Electronics Development
The growing popularity of NMEA 2000 networking has created a demand for affordable, flexible, and powerful embedded platforms capable of connecting sensors, displays, and control systems to marine CAN bus networks. The ESP32S3 CAN-Bus Board with NMEA 2000 Connector from Copperhill Technologies was designed specifically for that purpose. Built around the powerful ESP32-S3 processor, the board [...]
Build a CAN Data Logger with Raspberry Pi and the PiCAN3 CAN Bus Interface
The Raspberry Pi has become one of the most popular platforms for embedded development, industrial automation, vehicle diagnostics, and data acquisition. Combine it with a CAN Bus interface, and you have a powerful yet affordable platform capable of monitoring and recording data from virtually any CAN-based system. Whether you are working with industrial equipment, agricultural machinery, [...]
Beyond OBD-II Diagnostics: Passive Vehicle Data Monitoring for Maintenance, Safety, and Predictive Analytics
When discussions about vehicle electronics appear online, they often focus on modifying vehicle behavior, unlocking hidden features, or sending commands onto the vehicle network. Unfortunately, these topics can create the impression that a vehicle's Controller Area Network (CAN) is primarily a playground for experimentation. See also our post The Hidden Risks of Tampering with a Vehicle’s [...]
Physical Diagnostics of CAN Networks – Looking Beyond the Protocol
Most CAN Bus troubleshooting starts with software tools. Engineers connect a CAN analyzer, look at message traffic, verify identifiers, and search for protocol errors. While that approach is certainly useful, it often overlooks the most common source of CAN network problems: the physical layer. The CAN protocol itself is remarkably robust. However, damaged cables, poor connectors, [...]
The Hidden Risks of Tampering with a Vehicle’s CAN Bus Network
Modern vehicles are no longer purely mechanical machines. They are distributed computer networks on wheels. A contemporary vehicle may contain dozens of Electronic Control Units (ECUs) communicating over multiple Controller Area Network (CAN) buses, exchanging thousands of messages every second. This creates enormous possibilities for diagnostics, monitoring, and customization. It also creates enormous risks when somebody [...]