CANopen Sets Up Special-Purpose Network SIG

August 30th, 2006

Special-purpose vehicles such as taxis and police cars often require add-on equipment such as taximeters, printers, and sirens. The increasing functionality of these devices requires digital communication interfaces.

Because CAN (Controller Area Network) is used in several applications inside of cars, it was the obvious candidate for networking the add-on equipment. CAN in Automation (CiA) has, therefore, a Special Interest Group (SIG) to specify an application profile based on CANopen, an internationally standardized application layer protocol (EN 50235-4). CiA plans to publish a first version of the CANopen application profile as draft standard proposal by mid-2007. The transmission rate on the CAN network is specified as 125 kbit/s, and the devices use the 18-pin VGA connector.

CiA invites companies that would like to participate in this standardization work to e-mail headquarters@can-cia.org. Visit the CiA website for more information.

Entry Filed under: Network Test