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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 [...]
Mastering CAN Bus: Essential Guide to Understanding and Troubleshooting Vehicle Networks
In today’s world of connected vehicles and industrial automation, understanding the details of networked communication protocols has become a pivotal skill for engineers and technicians alike. The book Mastering CAN Scratch: Understanding & Troubleshooting (ISBN/ASIN B0G24Z25RZ) steps into this space by offering a comprehensive, hands-on guide to the widely used Controller Area Network (CAN) bus [...]
Classical CAN vs. CAN FD in Automotive, Medical Devices & Robotics – Key Differences and Usage
Controller Area Network (CAN) is a robust serial bus widely used in embedded systems across industries like automotive, medical devices, and robotics. “Classical” CAN (the original CAN 2.0 standard) has served reliably for decades in vehicle ECUs, industrial machines, and more. However, modern systems demand higher data throughput and efficiency than classical CAN’s 1 Mbit/s [...]
Harnessing the Power of the ESP32-S3: A Look at Copperhill’s CAN FD Development Board
In the evolving landscape of IoT, industrial automation, and automotive communication, the demand for a versatile, wireless-enabled microcontroller with CAN bus capabilities has never been greater. Copperhill Technologies rises to the occasion with its latest innovation—a development board based on the ESP32-S3-WROOM-1-N8R8, engineered to support both Classical CAN and CAN FD protocols. At the heart of [...]
The Teensy Series of Processor Modules: A Versatile Platform for Embedded Systems
The Teensy series of processor modules is a family of compact, high-performance microcontroller boards developed by PJRC. These boards are widely recognized for their small form factor, powerful processing capabilities, and extensive I/O support, making them an ideal choice for a variety of embedded systems applications, including robotics, audio processing, and IoT (Internet of Things) [...]
Embedded CAN Bus Development with the ESP32 Processor
The Controller Area Network (CAN) bus is a robust communication protocol designed to facilitate data exchange between microcontrollers and devices in automotive and industrial applications. With its high reliability and real-time capabilities, it has become a cornerstone in modern embedded systems. The ESP32, a popular microcontroller from Espressif Systems, offers integrated CAN controller support, making [...]
Embedded Systems Development for NMEA 2000
Embedded systems development for the NMEA 2000 (National Marine Electronics Association) protocol presents unique challenges and opportunities in the field of marine electronics. NMEA 2000 is a standardized communication protocol designed to enable robust and reliable data exchange among marine instruments and devices. This essay explores the fundamental aspects of developing embedded systems for NMEA [...]
JCOM1939 Monitor Software - A Critical SAE J1939 Diagnostic and Analysis Tool
The JCOM1939 Monitor Software is a specialized tool designed to interface with and monitor data on the SAE J1939 communication network. SAE J1939 is a standardized protocol commonly used in heavy-duty vehicles, agriculture equipment, and industrial machinery for onboard diagnostics and data communication. This essay explores the features, applications, and significance of JCOM1939 Monitor Software in [...]
ESP32 Processor: CAN Bus Topology and Termination Resistors
This post is an excerpt from our application note Controller Area Network (CAN) Development with ESP32. It is my experience that newcomers to the technology overlook the importance of termination resistors. Missing or misplaced resistors can lead to transmission errors or even prevent transmission altogether. The general rule is that if you connect to an existing, fully [...]
ESP32 Processor: Adding CAN/CAN-FD Controllers per SPI Port
This post is an excerpt from our application note Controller Area Network (CAN) Development with ESP32. The internal CAN controller SJA1000 does not support CAN-FD and is not CAN-FD tolerant. To use CAN-FD with the ESP32, you need to employ CAN-FD breakout boards that are accessible per the ESP32’s SPI ports. Note: The SPI ports are not [...]