CANopen is a communication protocol and device profile family built on the CAN bus, specified by CAN in Automation (CiA) in CiA 301. It uses an object dictionary, SDOs for configuration and PDOs for process data.
CANopen
CANopen is a higher-layer protocol for the CAN bus, used in machines, vehicles, medical devices and building systems. It is specified by CAN in Automation (CiA), with the application layer and communication profile in CiA 301 and device profiles for specific kinds of equipment.
- Object dictionary - Every device publishes a dictionary of its parameters and process values with standard indexes.
- SDOs - Service data objects read and write dictionary entries one at a time, as request and response.
- PDOs - Process data objects broadcast values to any node that needs them, on events or in sync with a cycle.
- Network management - Standard states and heartbeat messages tell a manager which devices are alive.
The object dictionary is the useful starting point for any API over CANopen equipment, because it already names and types every value.
It is one of fourteen protocols mapped to five communication patterns in OT Fabric’s software architect’s guide to OT.
Industry: Manufacturing
