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Why Would You Need Two CAN Ports on a Raspberry Pi?
When developers first start working with CAN bus networks, a single CAN interface is usually sufficient. It allows them to monitor traffic, transmit messages, and develop applications for automotive, industrial, marine, or agricultural systems. However, as projects become more sophisticated, the limitations of a single CAN port quickly become apparent. This is where dual-channel CAN interfaces [...]
When CAN FD Meets Precision Positioning: Building Next-Generation Vehicle Telematics with Raspberry Pi
Modern vehicles generate enormous amounts of data. Engine parameters, fuel consumption, battery status, vehicle speed, GPS location, driver behavior, and diagnostic information all play a role in today’s connected transportation systems. The challenge is not collecting the data—it is collecting the right data reliably, even when GPS signals disappear. That is where the PiCAN FD with GPS/GNSS [...]
CAN Bus Troubleshooting with the PiCAN HATs: Why the Board Is Probably Not the Problem
The PiCAN product line has become the go-to CAN Bus interface solution for Raspberry Pi developers, system integrators, educators, and industrial engineers worldwide. From entry-level CAN Bus connectivity to advanced dual-channel CAN, CAN FD, GPS/GNSS integration, RS232, RS485, and real-time industrial networking, PiCAN boards combine robust hardware design with seamless Raspberry Pi integration. Whether you [...]
Why CAN Bus Is One of the Most Reliable Communication Systems Ever Created
When engineers design communication systems for vehicles, industrial machinery, agricultural equipment, marine electronics, and embedded control systems, reliability is often more important than raw speed. A lost message in a music streaming application may go unnoticed. A lost message containing engine speed, brake status, steering angle, or hydraulic pressure can lead to equipment malfunction, downtime, or [...]
Why the Teensy 4.1 Triple CAN-Bus Board with Ethernet Makes an Excellent CAN Data Logger
Modern vehicles, industrial machines, marine systems, and agricultural equipment generate enormous amounts of CAN bus traffic. Capturing, storing, and analyzing this data is essential for diagnostics, performance monitoring, predictive maintenance, fleet management, and product development. While there are many commercial CAN data loggers available, they often suffer from one or more limitations: High cost Limited customization Proprietary software Restricted storage [...]
Programming PiCAN Boards with Python: A Practical Guide for Raspberry Pi CAN Applications
The Raspberry Pi has become one of the most popular platforms for developing CAN bus applications. Whether you are working with industrial equipment, agricultural machinery, marine electronics, automotive systems, or SAE J1939 networks, combining a Raspberry Pi with a PiCAN board provides a powerful and cost-effective development platform. One of the biggest advantages of this setup [...]
CAN, SAE J1939, and NMEA 2000 Development with Raspberry Pi and PiCAN HATs
The Raspberry Pi has evolved far beyond its origins as an educational computer. Today, it serves as a powerful platform for industrial automation, vehicle networking, marine electronics, telematics, data logging, and rapid embedded systems prototyping. When combined with the PiCAN family of Raspberry Pi HATs available from Copperhill Technologies, the Raspberry Pi becomes a versatile CAN [...]
ESP32 TWAI Driver Explained: A Practical Guide to CAN Bus Programming
The ESP32 has become one of the most popular microcontrollers for CAN bus applications. Whether you are building industrial controllers, SAE J1939 devices, NMEA 2000 products, robotics systems, or automotive prototypes, the ESP32 provides a powerful and cost-effective platform with a built-in CAN controller. Yet, many developers are confused when they encounter the term TWAI in [...]
ESP32S3 CAN & LIN-Bus Board – Accelerating CAN-to-LIN Gateway Development
Modern vehicles and industrial machines increasingly rely on multiple communication networks. While CAN Bus serves as the backbone for critical control systems, LIN (Local Interconnect Network) provides a low-cost solution for intelligent sensors, switches, actuators, and body electronics. In many applications, engineers need a reliable method to exchange data between these two networks. The ESP32S3 CAN [...]
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 [...]