Introduction To Can Bus (Controller Area Network)

Learn CAN bus from scratch: frames, signals, error handling, and applications in modern vehicles

What you'll learn

Understand why CAN bus was invented and the problems it solved

Identify the structure and main features of CAN bus

Analyze a CAN frame and its fields

Explain arbitration, priority, and error handling

Explore CAN versions and their use in automotive and industrial systems

Understand basic CAN electrical features and interferences

Requirements

Basic understanding of electronics could be useful

Description

The CAN bus (Controller Area Network) is one of the most important technologies in modern automotive and industrial systems. Without it, today’s vehicles simply could not function: the engine, ABS, airbags, infotainment, climate control, and dozens of other systems communicate through this network.This course is designed to give you a complete and practical introduction to CAN bus technology, starting from the basics and gradually moving to more technical details. You will discover why CAN bus was invented, how it solved the problems of traditional wiring, and why it became the worldwide standard for in-vehicle communication.We will explore the structure of a CAN network, analyze a CAN frame field by field, and explain how arbitration, priority management, and error handling work in practice. You will also learn about logic levels, termination resistors, noise reduction techniques, and electromagnetic interference, as well as the limitations of speed and cabling in real applications.The course includes clear explanations, visual diagrams, and practical examples, making even complex concepts easy to understand. No prior knowledge of CAN bus is required: a basic understanding of electronics and computers will be helpful, but the course is suitable for beginners.Whether you are an engineering student, technician, automotive professional, or simply curious about how vehicles communicate, this course will give you a solid foundation in CAN bus technology and prepare you to apply this knowledge in study, work, or further training.

Overview

Section 1: Introduzione

Lecture 1 Goals and Overview

Section 2: Why CAN bus ?

Lecture 2 From Wires to Networks

Lecture 3 With vs. Without CAN

Section 3: History & Key Concepts

Lecture 4 A Short History of CAN

Lecture 5 Inside a CAN Network

Lecture 6 Why CAN bus is Better

Lecture 7 CAN Versions Explained

Lecture 8 CAN in the OSI Model

Section 4: Vehicle Communication Networks

Lecture 9 Modern Vehicle Architectures

Lecture 10 Beyond CAN: Other Buses (LIN, FlexRay, Ethernet)

Lecture 11 Cost Comparison of Network Technologies

Section 5: CAN Frames Explained

Lecture 12 The Basic Building Block: CAN Frame

Lecture 13 Types of CAN Frames

Lecture 14 Logic Levels on the Bus

Lecture 15 Bit-by-Bit Frame Analysis

Lecture 16 Extended CAN Frame

Section 6: Arbitration & Priorities

Lecture 17 How CAN Handles Message Priority

Section 7: CAN Bus Load

Lecture 18 Measuring Network Utilization

Section 8: Timing & Sampling

Lecture 19 How a Single Bit is Structured

Lecture 20 When Bits are Sampled

Section 9: Error Handling in CAN

Lecture 21 Error Detection State Machine

Lecture 22 Types of CAN Errors

Lecture 23 Error Frame Examples

Section 10: Electrical Aspects of CAN

Lecture 24 Noise Sources on the Network

Lecture 25 Noise Reduction Techniques

Lecture 26 Termination Resistors: Values and Usage

Lecture 27 Signals with and without Matching

Lecture 28 Speed Limits of CAN

Lecture 29 Voltage Levels on the Bus

Section 11: Electromagnetic Interference (EMI)

Lecture 30 EMI Basics

Lecture 31 Impact on CAN Cabling

Section 12: Wrap-Up

Lecture 32 Final Recap

Engineering Students,Technicians and mechanics who want to understand vehicle networks,Automotive professionals working with ECUs, diagnostics, or wiring,Technology and car enthusiasts curious about in-vehicle communication