CAN Bus (Controller Area Network)

Controller Area Network (CAN) is becoming a very popular bus for the automotive industry, with in-vehicle communications, and industrial automation applications. One of the features that makes CAN so successful is its producer-consumer oriented data transmission and multi-master capability. CAN has been standardized by the International Standards Organization as ISO 11898 for high and low-speed/fault-tolerant versions. High-speed CAN reaches 1Mbps and is used for engine control and powertrain applications. Low-speed/fault-tolerant CAN reaches 125Kbps and is used for body and comfort devices. National Instruments provides CAN connectivity to the Automotive Test Platform in high and low-speed/fault-tolerant versions for complete Rapid Control Prototyping, Hardware in the Loop, and System and Manufacturing Test Systems.

Benefits of NI's CAN Connectivity to the Automotive Test Platform

• Channel import
• Hardware timing and synchronization
• Easy to use API
• Improved performance
• Improved productivity
• Reduced time-to-market
• Global service and support

Let National Instruments help you improve your testing process. We have multiple options to ensure that you will be successful in implementing your test system.

• Build a system
• Find an integrator
• Buy a system

Build a System with NI Tools

Application Configurations and Downloads

• CAN Online Tutorial - This tutorial covers the basics of the ISO11898 specification and NI-CAN hardware and software configuration and programming.
• Synchronizing CAN and Analog Signals for Device Validation - This document describes the need for hardware synchronization in device validation systems and discusses CAN and DAQ synchronization use NI-CAN and LabVIEW.
• CAN Periodic Transmission in LabVIEW

Customer Solutions and Case Studies

• Using CAN Communication Equipment to Diagnose and Simulate Vehicle Signals
• Developing a Test System for Intelligent Automotive Components
• Automating Functionality Tests on Car Doors at Saab Automobile
• Using Virtual Instruments to Design an Automotive Air Conditioning Simulation System for Fiat

Find a System Integrator

If you have time constraints and limited internal resources, we have the answer for you! Our Alliance program has many integrators that serve the automotive electronics industry. The following companies have integrated multiple projects in this area:

USA

• VI Engineering
• Viewpoint Systems
• Wineman Technology, Inc.

Germany

• Konrad Technology GmbH
• measX GmbH & Co. KG
• S.E.A. Datentechnik GmbH

France

• BI2S

Italy

• Alfautomazione
• GEAS

Spain

• MAPRO Sistemas de Ensayo, S.A.

Japan

• Ensco, Inc.

Buy a Turnkey System

Speed your time-to-market by purchasing a complete, pre-built system from a National Instruments partner.

• Alfautomazione
  • Alfautomazione, a National Instruments Select Integrator and global ATE supplier, has developed a test platform, the HFT 3000, for the production and service testing of engine ECUs
• Thermotron
  • Well known for its environmental chambers, Thermotron has additional expertise in the area of test systems. Its Functional Parametric Test System is designed for design validation testing of automotive electronics
• Softest
  • Softest has developed the Apollo Test System designed for the production test of HVAC control electronics and automotive switches
• S.E.A.
  • The Automotive Component Test Platform from S.E.A. is an enterprise-level test executive designed for the testing of automotive electronics components