Controller Area Network Prototyping with Arduino
While the Arduino is not widely considered an industrial-strength solution, it provides, due to its low price and ease of programming, the perfect prototyping platform for all kinds of Controller Area Network (CAN) applications.
This book, written by a leading expert on CAN technologies, guides the reader through the process of acquiring all necessary hardware and software components, the implementation of the CAN driver, and the implementation of programs (Arduino Sketches) to read, send, process, and display data from and to a CAN network.
This book will enable you to achieve CAN functionality literally within only a few hours.
The topics include:
* Introduction to Controller Area Network
* Prototyping Hardware and its Variants
* Arduino CAN Shields
* CAN Driver Implementation and Library Functions
* Simple CAN Test Programs
* CAN Network Monitoring, Simulation, and Diagnostics Program
* CAN Data Display via Windows/Linux GUI
Why Read This Book
You will learn how to turn low-cost Arduino boards into capable CAN prototyping nodes and a full USB-to-CAN gateway, gaining hands-on experience with real CAN controllers, transceivers, and driver code. The book emphasizes practical, reusable Arduino sketches and wiring/debugging techniques so you can prototype automotive, industrial, or IoT CAN applications quickly and inexpensively.
Who Will Benefit
Engineers, hobbyists, and embedded developers with some microcontroller and electronics experience who want to prototype or learn Controller Area Network (CAN) systems using Arduino hardware.
Level: Intermediate — Prerequisites: Basic Arduino/C or C++ programming, familiarity with microcontroller I/O and SPI, and a working knowledge of basic electronics (voltage levels, wiring, and grounding). Some experience with Windows or Linux for PC integration is helpful.
Key Takeaways
- Implement a MCP2515-based CAN driver on Arduino using SPI and handle standard and extended frames
- Build and wire a reliable CAN node with proper transceivers, termination, and bus layout for prototyping
- Send, receive, filter, and parse CAN messages in Arduino sketches for logging, control, and diagnostics
- Create a USB-to-CAN gateway that interfaces Arduino with Windows/Linux PCs and common PC tools
- Use debugging and test techniques (logic analyzers, serial consoles, and CAN analyzers) to validate bus behavior
Topics Covered
- 1. Introduction to CAN: Motivation, Use Cases, and Basics
- 2. CAN Frames, Arbitration, Error Handling, and Timing
- 3. Choosing Hardware for Prototyping: Arduinos, CAN Controllers, and Transceivers
- 4. Electrical Wiring, Termination, and Bus Topology for Reliable CAN
- 5. SPI and the MCP2515 CAN Controller: Registers and Operation
- 6. Implementing the CAN Driver on Arduino (Sketches and Libraries)
- 7. Sending, Receiving, and Filtering CAN Messages
- 8. Building a USB-to-CAN Gateway: Firmware and PC Protocol
- 9. PC Integration: Windows and Linux Tools (serial, SocketCAN, and custom apps)
- 10. Troubleshooting, Debugging, and Measurement Techniques
- 11. Advanced Topics: Higher-layer Protocols, CANopen/J1939 Overview, and Performance Tips
- 12. Project Examples and Appendices (Parts, Schematics, and Source Code)
Languages, Platforms & Tools
How It Compares
Unlike protocol-focused references such as Konrad Etschberger's CAN texts, Voss's book is intensely practical and Arduino-centric — think hands-on prototyping rather than formal protocol theory; for Linux integration, pair it with SocketCAN documentation for deeper PC-side tooling.
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