CAN Bus Setup

This article shows how to setup CAN bus and what options users have to accomplish the setup suitable for their specific needs.

Tip

The UAVCAN setup page is here.

Overview

A Controller Area Network (CAN bus) is a robust vehicle bus standard designed to allow microcontrollers and devices to communicate with each other in applications without a host computer. It is a message-based protocol, designed originally for multiplex electrical wiring within automobiles to save on copper, but is also used in many other contexts.

All nodes are connected to each other through a two wire bus. The wires are 120 Ω nominal twisted pair.

Most flight controllers that run Ardupilot have either one or two CAN interfaces for connection of different devices. The setup of the interfaces can be made in a way that will provide redundancy or maximum throughput or a mix of both. This is accomplished with a three layer approach, where apart from the physical interface there exist a driver layer that represents a specific protocol and a software layer (Ardupilot) that communicates on CAN bus through these drivers.

Each physical interface can be virtually connected to one of the drivers that represent protocols to be used. For example, the most common scenario will be one driver of UAVCAN with both interfaces connected to it. Such setup will provide redundancy for devices with two CAN interfaces and full functionality for devices with one CAN interface.

Configuration settings

Enabling CAN interfaces

Each physical port can be turned off or connected to corresponding driver with parameter CAN_PX_DRIVER, where X is the number of port. The value of this parameter is the id of driver that will be associated with this port (interface).

For example, the most common setup will have one driver and all interfaces will be connected to it. The CAN_P1_DRIVER and CAN_P2_DRIVER parameters in this configuration should be set to 1 (first driver).

../_images/can-driver-parameters.png

After change of any CAN_PX_DRIVER the autopilot has to be rebooted for the changes to take place.

Configuration of CAN interfaces

After enabling the interface and reboot two more parameters can be set for each of the enabled interfaces.

These are:

  • CAN_PX_BITRATE - sets the desired rate of transfer on this interface
  • CAN_PX_DEBUG - allows output of debug messages

Usually the bitrate used by default is 1 Mbit. Debug level can be set on user’s preference and needs.

../_images/can-driver-parameters-bitrate.png

When any of the interfaces are associated with any driver, that driver will be loaded with specified protocol.

Configuration of CAN driver

The driver should be set to use some protocol. Currently there is support for UAVCAN, which is numbered 1. The parameter CAN_PX_PROTOCOL, where X is the number of driver, should be filled with the number of protocol for this driver.

../_images/can-driver-parameters-protocol.png

After the change to protocol the autopilot has to be rebooted for the changes to take place.