CAN in automotive applications
CAN, the leading network in power-train and body electronic applications, is very well accepted by European carmakers and it is also becoming the leading network in America and the Far East. The big three - DaimlerChrysler, Ford, and General Motors - are heavily involved in CAN network developments. But still they are mainly using the slow J1850 network for body electronics. In Far East, Toyota has already implemented CAN and other Japanese and Korean carmakers will follow very soon.
Each year several million of CAN nodes in passenger cars are installed. Each day about 100,000 ABS units worldwide are produced, and nearly half of them are equipped with a CAN interface. Other electronic control units (ECU) provide CAN connectivity as well. Bosch's ESP (Electronic Stability Program), an extension of ABS (antilock braking system) and ASR, is also mostly connected to the CAN-based in-vehicle network. While ABS and ASR prevent undesired slip longitudinally, ESP also reduces loss of lateral stability. In 1999, Bosch produced its one-millionth ESP unit, which first appeared on the Mercedes-Benz 1995 S-Class. Today, ESP units are installed on all Mercedes-Benz cars, from A-Class to S-Class. ESP is also installed in the Peugeot's 607 and networked via CAN to the automatic gearbox and engine control units.
No more fumbling for car keys, that is only true for S-Class drivers and soon also for Cadillac buyers. In 1999, the world's first keyless entry and ignition technology, called Keyless Go, was introduced for Mercedes-Benz S-Class models. Jointly developed by DaimlerChrysler and Siemens Automotive the Keyless Go control unit provides a CAN interface. Exiting the car is just as convenient as entering it: Pressing the start/stop button switches the engine off and locks the gear selector lever in the park position. The doors are looked briefly touching a button on the interior trim panel, or a button on the exterior door handle. The system alerts the driver to any problems, for example, if the key fob has been left in the car.
