|
| Home |
CANopen Introduction |
CANopen is 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 systems based on CAN.
CANopen was developed within the CAN-in-Automation
(CiA)  international
users' and manufacturers' group and is standardized as CENELEC EN 50325-4 since December 2002. Soon after
its initial release in 1996, CANopen has found a broad
acceptance, especially in Europe where it can be considered the leading standard for
CAN based system solutions.
Functionality, parameters and the access to process data of standard devices such as I/O modules, drives,
controllers or encoders are defined by so called device profiles. Thus, devices of different manufacturers
can be accessed via the bus in exactly the same manner. In this way, a very high degree of vendor independence is achieved as the
devices are interoperable and exchangeable. Therefore, CANopen is on one hand standardized, but on the other
hand it is still open to a nearly unlimited field of applications.
By now CANopen is used in various fields, such as:
- Machine control
- Factory automation
- Laboratory automation
- Transportation and traffic
- Utility vehicles
- Building automation
- Medical Systems
 |
 |
 |
 |
Nowadays CANopen is implemented in various devices and applications,
from catering coffee machines and robots to maritime
and transportation solutions. |
|
 | |
|
CANopen Basics