No. 10 - July 11, 2025
A word from the CiA Managing Director
I visited the Eurobike 2025 trade show in Frankfurt a. M. (Germany) with 1500 exhibitors. I was one of the 31270 visitors. The exhibiting companies presented traditional bicycles, pedelecs, and e-bikes as well as mechanical and electrical parts. Most of the battery-powered bicycles use embedded CAN networks.
As you may know, CiA has supported the standardization of public charging (IEC/TS 61851-3-4: Electric vehicles conductive charging system – Part 3-4: DC EV supply equipment where protection relies on double or reinforced insulation – General definitions and requirements for CANopen communication and IEC/TS 61851-3-5: Electric vehicles conductive charging system – Part 3-5: DC EV supply equipment where protection relies on double or reinforced insulation – Pre-defined communication parameters and general application objects). Additionally, CiA has developed the CiA 454 series (CANopen application profile for energy management systems), comprising several parts. There is also a conformance test plan for pedelecs (CiA 312-7).
Most of the exhibiting device suppliers on the Eurobike just provide the CAN hardware (controller and transceiver). When I asked them, which higher-layer protocol (HLP) they support, some answered: “CAN 2.0”. But there were also some suppliers providing a proprietary HLP (e.g., Bafang, Bosch, and Shimano). Some companies support CANopen: Biketec, a Swiss company, offers the CANopen-based FIT 2.0 application profile, which has been implemented by several device suppliers. In the December 2024 issue of the CAN Newsletter magazine, you can find some more details. TQ Electronics provides also a CANopen-based integration platform for pedelec devices (e.g., host controller, drive, sensor, display, battery, and charger). Integration of non-CANopen devices is possible by means of gateways. Yamaha (Japan) presented the CAN-Open-EDS platform, which enables partners to integrate the company’s PW-Link drives.
I think, it is time to harmonize the CANopen-based integration platforms to the benefit of device suppliers and pedelec OEMs (original equipment manufacturers). CiA is going to organize a workshop to discuss and to evaluate the possibilities to standardize a CANopen-based solution for LEVs (light-electric vehicles). Interested parties should contact CiA office.
Wanted: Open-source DIN 14700 protocol stack
Fire-fighting truck OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) such as Ziegler (Germany) are interested in an open-source DIN 14700 protocol stack. The DIN 14700 application profile for fire-fighting host controllers and fire-fighting units (FFUs) is based on CANopen. It specifies an additional error message and a special PDO (process data object), containing FFU warnings and FFU error information. DIN 14700 has been submitted to ISO/TC 22/SC 31/WG 4 for international standardization. The document specifies all necessary FFU parameters. Interested parties in developing an open-source DIN 14700 protocol stack should contact CiA office, which coordinates intermediately this project, if more than three members support this approach. CiA is also committed to organize DIN 14700 plugfests, doublechecking the interoperability of FFUs with host controllers.
CiA at Agritechnica 2025
CiA exhibits in hall 17, stand A59, at the Agritechnica. The bi-annual trade show for agriculture and forestry machines takes place from November 9 to 15, in Hannover (Germany). Between other topics, CiA provides information about the CAN-based Isobus (ISO 11783) solution connecting implements to a tractor and about CANopen networks embedded in implements.
CiA offers its members to show their products as part of CiA’s product panel wall. In addition to CANopen products, CiA exceptionally offers to exhibit Isobus- and J1939-related products and services. The deadline for booking using the order form is July 31, 2025. Contact marketing(at)can-cia.org for further information.
CiA goes China
The MG (marketing group) CAN XL is organizing a three-stops CiA technology day “CAN XL ecosystem”. It will take place in Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen, in the week starting on November 17. The one-day events comprise presentations by several CiA members (e.g., Bosch, C&S Group, Cast, Infineon, Hongke, Kvaser, NXP, Texas Instruments, Tosun, and ZLG) as well as CAN XL demonstrations. More details about these CiA technology days will be available on CiA’s website, very soon.
Isobus data dictionary
CiA IG (interest group) J1939 collects comments on the ISO 11783-11 related data dictionary. This is an electronic ISO document specifying tractor and implement parameters, which is hosted by the nonprofit VDMA association. It needs to be editorially improved, in order to avoid misinterpretations and to comply with editing ad drafting rules as given in ISO Directives, Part 2.
CAN Newsletter magazine
Besides the six articles related to mobile machines and further topics, the June 2025 issue includes articles about lighting solutions, CAN FD light, as well as CAN XL and CANopen semiconductor hardware and software.
Magazine editors are always glad to receive CAN-related contributions and application stories about new developments, solutions, and products. Just send your article or press information to pr(at)can-cia.org.
News ticker
+++ Recently, CiA has assigned CANopen vendor IDs to Scorpion Technologies (Canada), Mean Well Europe (Netherlands), and MEIKO Maschienbau (Germany). +++ Microcontrol (Germany) offers the TRS I/O module series used, e.g., for development and testing of CAN-based solutions in e-bikes. +++ CiA member MRS Electronic (Germany) distributes its CANopen products by Control Technologies (UK) and participates in the iVT EXPO in Chicago, in August; CiA is also present with a booth and a conference speech. +++
CiA activities
- CiA education and information events
- Charged online seminars
- Charged in-house seminars
- Free-of-charge CiA webinars
- CiA technolgy days
- CiA groups
- CiA trade shows
New CiA members since the last CCN
- Anker Andersen (DK)
- LarsLabs (DE)
- Performance Motion Devices (US)
- ROHK NDT Systems (CA)
- TESEO (IT)
CiA has 733 members (July 11, 2025)
New video on Youtube
- CAN-based networking in agriculture - CiA webinar on 2025-07-03
CiA Product Guides
Present your solution in CAN Newsletter 3-2025
CiA is going to print the September 2025 issue of the CAN Newsletter magazine in order to distribute it on the coming trade shows participated by CiA. These trade shows include Schweißen & Schneiden (Welding & Cutting), Interlift, Agritechnica, and SPS. In this issue, your company has a possibility to be present with an advertisement. Please contact marketing(at)can-cia.org.
Editors: Olga Fischer, Holger Zeltwanger (responsible according to the press law)
Advertising: Birgit Ruedel (responsible according to the press law)
CAN in Automation (CiA) e. V.
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