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The communication standard for CAN-based solutions

CANopen in a higher layer protocol based on CAN (Controller Area Network), which enables the communication between devices of different manufacturers and guarantees an interchangeability of devices.

The profile family CANopen defines a standardized application for distributed industrial automation systems based on CAN. CANopen was developed within the CAN-in-Automation (CiA) international users' and manufacturers' group and is now standardized as CENELEC EN 50325-4. Soon after its release, CANopen has found a broad acceptance, especially in Europe where it can be considered the leading standard for CAN based industrial and embedded system solutions.

The most important device types such as digital and analog I/O modules, drives, controllers, programmable controls or encoders, are described by so called "Device Profiles". In these device profiles functionality, parameters and the access to process data of standard devices of the corresponding types are specified. Based on these standardized profiles devices of different manufacturers can be accessed via the bus in exactly the same manner. Vendor independence is thus achieved to a large extent as devices of different manufacturers are interoperable and exchangeable.

By now it is used in many various fields, such as medical equipment, off-road vehicles, maritime electronics, public transportation, building automation, etc.
 
Caterin coffee machine from WMF. CANopen was used for the communication between the microcontroller components and a Windows based service tool. MTU uses CANopen maritime for the ship engine control

Nowadays CANopen is already implemented in varous devices and applications,
from catering coffee machines to maritime solutions.

With the CANopenSolutions.com webpage we like to provide detailed information about the CANopen protocol (see About CANopen), available products, like tools and CANopen protocol stacks as well as CANopen literature and training.