Controller Area Network - CAN - in Automationc
CAN (Controller Area Network) is a serial bus system, which was originally developed for automotive applications in the early 1980's. The CAN protocol was internationally standardized in 1993 as ISO 11898-1 and comprises the data link layer of the seven layer ISO/OSI reference model.
CANopen is a CAN-based higher layer protocol. It was developed as a standardized embedded network with highly flexible configuration capabilities.
In the year 1992, several companies founded the CAN in Automation (CiA) non-profit group, in order to provide technical, product and marketing information.
CARACA is a home automation project based on a net of interconnected programmable circuits suited to perform different tasks like switch on/off appliances, decode commands from Ir remote control units, control thermostats, measure temperature and more. Every node of the net communicate each other through a robust protocol (CANBus), and the status can be monitored by a PC possibly connected to the Internet.
