Industrial Communications
CAN bus
A robust multi-device communication bus originally developed for vehicles and now widely used in machinery.
IN ONE SENTENCE
Devices share short messages over a two-wire differential network.
In normal English
CAN handles arbitration and error checking efficiently and forms the electrical/data-link basis for higher-level protocols such as CANopen and J1939.
Why would I use it?
Use it in embedded machines, mobile equipment and systems designed around CAN.
THINK OF IT LIKE…
A shared noticeboard where devices post compact, prioritised messages.
Related terms
CANopen, J1939, DeviceNet
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