Controller Area Network (CAN Bus): Introduction

The CAN bus is a serial communications bus in which all connected control units can send as well as receive information. Data exchanges over a CAN operate at a rate of 100 to 500Kbps.

The CAN protocol was originally developed by Robert Bosch GMbH and the Intel corporation in 1988 for use in the automotive electronics industry to provide a standardized, reliable and cost-effective communications bus.

The CAN bus was originally introduced on BMW automobiles in 1992 740i/iL as a data link between the DME and AGS control units.