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 500 Kbps.

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.