CAN in Automation (CiA) members have established the Marketing Group (MG) CAN XL. It is responsible to organize joint marketing activities regarding the third generation of the CAN communication technology. CiA has already submitted the CiA 610-1 (CAN XL data link layer) and the 610-3 (CAN XL physical media attachment sub-layer) to ISO for international standardization. The CAN XL specifications will be integrated into the next editions of ISO 11898-1 (CAN data link layers) respectively ISO 11898-2 (CAN high-speed and SIC (signal improvement capability) transceivers). ISO 11898-2 is already in DIS (Draft International Standard) ballot. ISO 11898-1 will follow, soon.

CiA is continuing to extend the CAN XL ecosystem. Conformance test plans (CiA 610-2 and CiA 610-4) are under development and will also be submitted to ISO for integration into ISO 16845-1 respectively ISO 16845-2. Recently, CiA has released the CiA 611-1 specification defining some Service Data Unit (SDU) types. SDU types indicate the used higher-layer protocol. This enables the consumers to interpret the data link layer payload. This means, you can run multiple higher-layer protocols simultaneously on a single CAN XL network. CAN XL can be used for backbone network applications supporting so-called zonal network architectures. You can even run TCP on CAN XL in parallel to legacy CAN communication (e.g. CANopen and J1939-based solutions).

The benefits are obvious:

• CAN XL features a unique reliability: true Hamming distance of 6, capable to detect five randomly-distributed bit errors in a single XL data frame.
• Physical layer scalability: legacy high-speed transceiver (2 Mbit/s), SIC transceiver (8 Mbit/s), and SIC XL transceiver (16,7 Mbit/s)
• Comprehensive ecosystem: conformance test plans, device and network design recommendations, implementation guidelines, application notes, etc.
• Data link layer add-on functions: XL data frame fragmentation (CiA 613-3) to decrease bus latency times and the CANsec protocol for cybersecuring the XL data link layer (CiA 613-2)

One of the important joint activities is the organization of CAN XL plugfests testing the implementations on interoperability. The next one will take place in Detroit, Michigan, in April 2023. CiA also plans a CAN XL technology day in Detroit. You see, CiA members are very active in developing the third CAN generation. Do not miss the opportunity to get first-hand information on the scheduled CiA webinars and CiA technology days as well as in the CAN Newsletter.

CiA exhibited at the Innotrans 2022 fair in Berlin. CAN is still one of the well-established embedded networks in locomotives, coaches, and trainsets. Often they are invisible for the operators and the passengers. CiA received some demands to standardize additional embedded CAN-based networks.

One of them is the specification of a CANopen interface for heating ventilation and air-conditioning sub-system. Interested parties may contact the CiA office for further information on embedded CAN network in rolling stock and railway infrastructures (e.g. railroad crossing). The CAN Newsletter also published several articles regarding Innotrans 2022.

Bauma 2022: The trade show took place from October 24 to October 30 in Munich, Germany. It is an international trade fair for construction machinery, building material machines, mining machines, construction vehicles, and construction equipment. The CAN Newsletter reported about several products and developments found regarding CAN.

• IP Core: CANsec pre-implementation for CAN XL
• Multi-axes shaker: Monitoring battery-cell parameters via CAN
• J1939 function upgrade: CAN FD diagnosis device extended to J1939
• Thermocouple scanner: Data acquisition on up to 20 channels
• Ultrasonic sensor: For on-vehicle fuel-flow measurements