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SAE J1939 Starter Kit and Network Simulator - New Hardware Variant Using the ESP32 Processor
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Our SAE 1939 Starter Kit and Network Simulators allow experienced engineers and beginners to experiment with SAE J1939 data communication without connecting to a real-world J1939 network, i.e., a diesel engine. To establish a network, you need at least two nodes. That fact applies, especially to CAN/J1939 nodes. A single CAN Bus controller will shut down after transmitting data without receiving a response. Therefore, our SAE J1939 Starter Kit and Network Simulators comprise two SAE J1939 nodes, namely our JCOM.J1939.USB, an SAE J1939 ECU Simulator Board with USB Port.
The idea behind the network simulator is to connect both nodes to the same PC (two PCs will do, too) and run two instances of our jCOM1939 Monitor Software.
New Hardware Variant
Like many other businesses, we have to deal with the global shortage of electronic components. For instance, our original SAE J1939 Starter Kit processor (NXP LPC1754) will be available around June/July 2022, and we have already sold our entire inventory.
However, we have managed to port the firmware to the ESP32 processor, which is presently unaffected by supply deficiencies. Consequently, we are utilizing the ESP32 CAN Bus board by SK Pang Electronics as a temporary solution for our SAE J1939 gateways.
The ESP32 is a series of low-cost, low-power system-on-chip microcontrollers with a Tensilica Xtensa LX6 microprocessor in dual-core and single-core variations. As a result, it provides vastly more memory resources and processor speed than the LPC17xx series.
The gateway functionality is 100% identical to the original hardware, i.e., it works with our Windows software.
However, the current documentation refers to the original hardware. We have started developing a new board and plan to release it by February 2022. At the same time, we will release the updated documentation.
A Comprehensible Guide to SAE J1939
SAE J1939 has become the accepted industry standard and the vehicle network technology of choice for off-highway machines in applications such as construction, material handling, and forestry machines. SAE J1939 is a higher-layer protocol based on Controller Area Network (CAN). It provides serial data communications between microprocessor systems (also called Electronic Control Units - ECU) in heavy-duty vehicles.
The data exchanged between these units can be vehicle road speed, torque control message from the transmission to the engine, oil temperature, and many more.
The information in this book is based on two documents of the SAE J1939 Standards Collection:
- SAE J1939/21 - Data Link Layer
- SAE J1939/81 - Network Management.
A Comprehensible Guide to J1939 is the first work on SAE J1939 besides the SAE J1939 standards collection. It provides profound information on the SAE J1939 message format and network management combined with a high level of readability.