New CiA work items

The world does not stand still: CiA members have demanded several new work items with the intention to develop further CiA documents.

Some CiA members like to use high-available CAN networks. Therefore, it is necessary to specify the design of redundant bus-lines, redundant CAN nodes, and redundant devices. High-availability is an issue in several application fields, for example marine electronics and other mission-critical systems. Of course, classic CANopen and CANopen FD support is considered as an option.

CiA is also establishing a special interest group (SIG) for equipment used in fire-fighting vehicles. This covers also the support of related DIN standards (DIN 14700 and DIN 14704). Most important is the standardization of the DIN 14704 in-vehicle network gateway based on J1939, which provides a link to the fire-fighting body applications. One of them is the CANopen-based DIN 14700 sub-network comprising interoperable fire-fighting equipment.

The CiA Technical Committee has initiated the development of CAN communication modeling based on the OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) model as standardized in the ISO 7498 series. This includes normal communication, layer configuration, and add-on functions such as security, functional safety, low-power mode, etc. One of these add-on functions is frame fragmentation as specified in the CiA 613 CAN XL add-on functions series, in which also the CAN XL data link layer security will be specified. The intended modeling of CAN communication covers all OSI layers.

There is also an application layer related security protocol demanded. Therefore, CiA office calls for security experts, who are interested in this topic. The intention is to develop an approach, which suits CANopen FD as well as classic CANopen. CAN XL data link layer security is already under development (CiA 613-2) within the TF (task force) security of the SIG security.

CiA office has received requests to provide a generic CAN bootloader specification suitable for classic CANopen and CANopen FD. Therefore, a CiA workshop is organized discussing the scope and the content of such a specification.

Date Time Event
2021-08-30 10:00-12:00 Inaugural meeting IG high availability
2021-09-22 10:00-12:00 Workshop: Generic CAN bootloader
2021-10-07 15:00-17:00 Inaugural meeting IG lower layers SIG CAN XL TF simulation
2021-10-12 13:00-15:00 Inaugural meeting TC TF modelling

CAN makes the world go around: If you like to be involved in these new CiA work items, you can contact the CiA office to be invited to the inaugural meetings. They are open also for non-members. CiA membership is obligatory, if you would like to participate regularly in the related CiA technical group.