What is CAN-bus? Communication Protocol for Real-Time Data Exchange Between Embedded Systems

What is CAN-bus?

CAN-bus (Controller Area Network) is a serial communication protocol designed for reliable, efficient, and real-time data exchange between electronic components—without the need for a central host computer. Originally developed by Bosch in the 1980s for automotive electronics, CAN-bus is now widely used in industrial automation, medical equipment, agricultural machinery, and IoT environments.

How Does CAN-bus Work?

In a CAN-bus system, all connected devices (also called “nodes”) share a common communication network: the bus. Every device on the network can both send and receive messages. Communication is based on message priority—the most important message gets access to the bus first.

Instead of addressing devices by their location (as with IP), messages are identified by their type of content (ID). This makes the network highly scalable, modular, and resistant to faults.

Key Features of CAN-bus

  • Bidirectional communication on a single data line pair
    Only one twisted pair is required to connect multiple devices.
  • Balanced communication
    Differential signaling improves resistance to interference (EMC robustness).
  • Message-based protocol
    Data is transmitted in prioritized messages, enabling real-time operation.
  • Robust and reliable
    Operates in harsh conditions and resists electrical interference.
  • Fail-safe design
    The protocol automatically handles errors or collisions and restores communication.

Applications of CAN-bus

  • Automotive electronics
    Communication between the engine, brake system (ABS/ESP), transmission, airbags, lighting, dashboard, and comfort systems.
  • Industrial automation
    Control of motors, sensors, and HMIs via embedded controllers in robots or production lines.
  • Agricultural and mining equipment
    Multiple subsystems communicate via a single CAN network for hydraulics, control, and telemetry.
  • Building automation and HVAC
    Local communication between control modules in smart buildings.
  • IoT and edge devices
    Integration into microcontrollers and gateway systems for data collection and analysis.

Advantages of CAN-bus

  • Reduced wiring
    Communication via just two wires instead of separate cables for each signal type.
  • Real-time response
    Suited for time-critical applications through priority-based data transmission.
  • Cost-effective
    Efficient architecture with minimal hardware requirements.
  • High reliability
    Self-correcting in case of errors, with low risk of data corruption.
  • Scalable
    Supports dozens of nodes on a single network without central coordination.

Variants of CAN-bus

CAN 2.0A/B – The original specification (11-bit or 29-bit identifiers)
CAN FD (Flexible Data Rate) – Higher data rates and larger payloads (up to 64 bytes per message)
LIN, FlexRay, MOST – Alternative protocols in the automotive sector depending on bandwidth or real-time requirements

More Information

Looking to integrate CAN-bus into your industrial network or vehicle-based IoT solution? Thingsdata offers hardware, connectivity, and protocol gateways for reading, interpreting, and forwarding CAN-bus data.

Contact us at +31 (0)85 0443500 or info@thingsdata.com, or browse our range of CAN-compatible products in the Thingsdata webshop.

Request our testkit

Need reliable IoT SIM cards? Request our test kit for 3 free SIMs with 100 MB data for 3 months. Experience seamless IoT connectivity today.

Request
Download our brochure

Looking for a reliable IoT partner? Download our brochure for instant access to valuable insights about our services and IoT solutions.

Downloaden