International Journal of Modern Trends in Engineering and

Research
www.ijmter.com
e-ISSN No.:2349-9745, Date: 28-30 April, 2016

Design and Implementation of CAN based Automobile Control System

Nakade M. J.1, A. A. Somani2
1 2
M.Tech Scholar, Asst. Professor
12
Department of Electronics and Telecommunication,
Maharashtra Institute of Technology, Aurangabad
1
[email protected], [email protected]

Abstract: In controlling the vehicle autonomously using various electronic control modules
(ECU‟s), usually need to make some decisions with integrated actions in real time with only
incomplete information. The CAN (Controller Area Network) serial bus system makes a crucial
contribution here with to its specific properties. This paper describes about development of CAN
based automobile control system which includes Body control and comfort electronics subsystem of
automobile to address comfort in drive feature.
Keywords: CAN Bus, ECU, Node, CAN controller, Host controller, CAN transceiver, NHTSA,
HMI.

I.INTRODUCTION
The modern automobile has progressed greatly in the last few years. Just as our everyday consumer
life has become sophisticated, our transportation has followed suit. Just how complex the modern
automobile has become, though, is most likely not known by the average person. Here is an effort
made in design and implementation of CAN protocol based Automobile control system for better
understanding the automobile system. Automobile instrument assembly consist of various nodes
linked with each other by CAN bus. Nodes are nothing but ECU‟s(electronic control unit) that
consisting of CAN controller and micro-controller to which various I/O devices as sensors, actuators
are attached, identifies and processes the required data. Modern motor vehicles can contains over
hundred ECUs which are interconnected by the CAN Bus network. The system could be well
illustrated by figure 1 below, showing In-Vehicle CAN Bus Network joining various ECUs.

Figure 1. CAN based Automobile Instrument Assembly

This intensive electronification and higher complexity in vehicles necessitates the use of data buses
in vehicles for information exchange between various control units. Using a digital network
controller (ECU) can efficiently and with the desired speed of data exchange can be possible. CAN
bus (Controller Area Network) is the most widely used data bus in formation of internal digital
network in vehicle [14]. It assures reliable data exchange even under harsh environmental conditions
for example. The data transmission over CAN bus takes placed using CAN protocol specified by the
CAN standard ISO-11898 [15], [16]. Information on the CAN bus is in the form of data messages
whose structure is defined by the CAN protocol [16]. The data on the communication line contain
commonly information about a vehicle operating parameters such as vehicle speed, fuel
consumption, engine performance etc.

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 International Journal of Modern Trends in Engineering and Research (IJMTER)
Volume 3, Issue 4, [April 2016] Special Issue of ICRTET’2016

II. LITERATURATURE SURVEY

A. Problem Formulation
According to NHTSA figures, since 1994 seat-belt-use in India increase steadily has been
accompanied by a comparably steady reduction in daytime passenger-vehicle fatalities. In 2010, the
last year for which fatality data was available, the number had been reduced by 42% fatalities among
76% front seat passengers while 59% rear seat passengers that use seat belt in India [17]. In the
present automobiles the number of facilities is much higher. The National Highway and
Transportation Safety Association reports [17] that 26% of all car accidents are caused by
distractions due to talking on cell phones, eating while driving, and other similar distractions that
take a driver‟s focus off the road. The driver has to concentrate on road while driving, and with
increased traffic, things get frustrating. The distraction considered in this project is for wiper on/off
and dome light on/off. While increasing vehicle theft is another important issue needs to be
addressed. In 2012 Times of India reported [18], out of 16 crore vehicles registered in the country,
1.7 lakh got stolen. On an average, there were 98 thefts per one lakh registered vehicles during the
same period.
The characteristic of the automobile buyer has undergone a rapid change in the last few years. Good
fuel efficiency along with high speed, Comfort in drive and lastly Cost consideration are the new
variables that are influencing the buyer. Comfort in drive is a feature that comprises of many other
features itself that assist the driver by not only making driving simpler but also assist to increase
vehicle safety and security. Cost is always been a matter of concern and efforts are to be made in
designing to decrease the cost. Electronics plays decisive role here to increase comfort level and
decrease the cost of vehicle. Our proposed model will implement the comfort in drive feature and
provide solution over the problems identified in the area.
B. Related Work
Thomas Nolte and Hans Hansson [1] stated historical perspective for development of automotive
systems, Communication requirements, typical subsystems and automotive communication
technologies. How communication over automobile instrument assembly takes placed using CAN
Bus is analyzed in [11]. Jadsonlee da Silva Sá , Jaidilson Jó da Silva, Miguel Gonçalves Wanzeller
and José Sérgio da Rocha Neto [2] implemented Monitoring of Temperature Using Smart Sensors
Based on CAN Architecture in which they monitored and displayed temperatures of two different
places and accordingly made auto-cooler on/off at the places. Similarly in [3], [4], [5], [7] and [8]
implemented system is based on CAN along with embedded system, to monitor and control of
different vehicle parameters addressing vehicle safety issue mainly but many of these parameters are
not driver friendly so our proposed prototype model is designed considering this prospect with
similar objective but different parameters as per requirement of the model.

III. PROPOSED MODEL

Body control and comfort electronics subsystem of automobile system includes climate control,
cruise control, locks, window lifts, seat control and Human Machine Interfaces (HMI) etc [1].
Vehicle security can be increased by using Anti-Theft Devices. Anti-theft device used here is GSM
interfaced and alarm equipped electronic locks key that not only cut fuel supply but also alarm owner
about probable vehicle theft by sending massages so by use of physical as well as electronic key
security level increases. Passenger‟s safety is been increased by making seat belt use mandatory for
passengers and making use of HMI that shows important massages alert driver for driver each time.
Also driving is made simpler and enjoyable by making environment control as dome-light, wiper etc.
auto on/off to avoid driver‟s distraction.

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 International Journal of Modern Trends in Engineering and Research (IJMTER)
Volume 3, Issue 4, [April 2016] Special Issue of ICRTET’2016

Figure 2. Block Diagram of Proposed System

After initialization of module display connected to the node 1 shows massage as „Design and
Implementation of CAN based Automotive Control System‟. System would check for Authorized
person entry or not by validation of both of RF based electronic key and traditional physical key used
by the respected person at node 2. If the entry is authorized then display at node 1 will show massage
as „Key is detected Authorized entry‟ along with its massage id otherwise it will show massage as
„Key not detected Your entry is discarded‟ and system will automatically disable the connection to
engine motors while node 2 will activate the alarm and send owner massage of probable vehicle thief
via GSM module. Then system will check for presence of light in car if it is not there then system
will automatically make dome light on showing massage as „Light not detected Dome Light ON‟ or
else system will automatically make dome light off showing massage as „Light detected Dome Light
OFF‟ and if not. Most importantly after that system will check for seat belt lock/unlock if it is being
locked then only display will show massage as „Push Start button to start the car‟ or else it will
display „wear seat belt or car stop‟ so that the seat-belt is made mandatory. Finally system will start
motor engine after start button is being pushed. Rain Sensor present at node 2 continuously track
presence of moisture and will make wiper motor on or off accordingly and also it will send massage
to node 1 to display the massage of rain detection and wiper on and vice versa otherwise. LCD at
node 2 is used to check whether the same massages would be received by node 1 that would had
transmitted from node 2.

IV. HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE REQUIREMENT

1. ATMega 16
Host Controller over the CAN controller is programmed to decide what the received messages mean,
what actions are to be taken and what messages it wants to transmit. ATMega 16 is to be used here
as host controller as per requirement of the system.
2. MCP 2515
The CAN controller stores the received serial bits from the bus until an entire message is available
which can then be fetched by the host processor. MCP2515 is a CAN Controller used for the
proposed system that meet the entire system requirement. CAN Controller is also responsible for
error handling and fault confinement. MCP 2515 supports CAN 2.0B protocol and compatible with
ISO 11898 CAN standard. MCP 2515 interfaces with host microcontroller via industry standard
Serial Peripheral Interface.
3. TJA1050

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 International Journal of Modern Trends in Engineering and Research (IJMTER)
Volume 3, Issue 4, [April 2016] Special Issue of ICRTET’2016

The TJA1050 is the third Philips high-speed CAN transceiver fully compatible with ISO 11898 CAN
standard. The transceiver is a transmitter and receiver amplifier. It converts the serial bit stream of
the CAN module into electrical voltage values and vice versa. CAN bus uses two dedicated wires for
communication. The wires are called CAN high and CAN low. When the CAN bus is in idle mode,
both lines carry 2.5V. When data bits are being transmitted, the CAN high line goes to 3.75V and the
CAN low drops to 1.25V due to the resistance of 120ohm used at the termination thereby generating
a 2.5V differential voltage between the lines. A dominant bit is represented by CAN_H going to
about 3.5 V and CAN_L going to about 1.5 V and recessive bit when voltage difference is zero.
TJA1050 supports CAN 2.0B protocol.
4. LDR Sensor
A photo-resistor or light-dependent resistor (LDR) or photocell is a light control variable resistor.
The resistance of a photo-resistor decreases with increasing incident light intensity; in other words, it
exhibits photoconductivity. LDR sensor is used in system for detection of light or dark in order to
automatic dome light on.
5. Limit Switch
Limit switch is a switch operated by the motion of a machine part or presence of an object to make or
break an electrical connection. They are used for controlling machinery as part of a control system,
as a safety interlocks, or to count objects passing a point. Here limit switch is used for indication of
seat belt lock or unlock.
6. Rain Sensor
It was found that the rain sensor is the expensive unit in the present system so an effort is done in
making a sensor which is reasonable by price, the Cup Sensor. The sensing device used here is
basically a conical shaped cup with a tray on the top of the cup to collect maximum possible amount
of water. Based on level of water in the cup wiper will be operated.
7. GSM Module
SIM900D GSM Module uses AT commands for sms, calls and gprs. Here GSM Module will send
owner massage of probable vehicle thief in case of unauthorized person‟s interference is detected.
8. LCD
There are two LCD (Liquid Crystal Display)Modules are required in system in which one is 16*8
matrix attached at node 1 display data received at node 1 and other 16*2 matrix display at node 2 to
display data received at node 2. Also communication over CAN Bus also can be verified using LCD
displaying CAN massages transmitted or received via CAN Bus.
9. DC Motor
There are three DC Motors are to be used in the system in which two for driving vehicle used as
engine motor prototype and one for wiper to wipe rain water present on windshield.
10. Locks Key
Two types of key as electronic and physical key i.e. traditional key are required to validate the entry.
Electronic key used here is based on RF module consisting of transmitter chip embedded at the
physical key and receiver chip fixed on door. After validation of both key persons entry will get
authorized.
11. Dome light
Series LED‟s are used here as a dome light having advantage of energy efficiency and additional
feature as light dimmer over the existing system in which Florescent tube used for dome light.

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 International Journal of Modern Trends in Engineering and Research (IJMTER)
Volume 3, Issue 4, [April 2016] Special Issue of ICRTET’2016

12. Proteus
Proteus software is to be use to design circuit diagram for the system.
13. AVR Studio 4
AVR Studio version 4 software is to be use to develop code for the system. Embedded C is the
coding language use for coding in AVR Studio.

V. CONCLUSION
When taken into account that CAN is still at the beginning of a global market penetration, even
conservative estimates show further growth for this bus system for the next ten to fifteen years [6].
So the project on CAN implementation makes major significance here. Proposed system is designed
in a way having advantage of feasibility, expandability, energy efficiency, cost effectiveness and
reasonable data speed upto 1MBPS with the only limitation of regulation of cable length as data
transmission rate decreases with increase in cable length. This paper describes about design and
development of automobile control system using CAN protocol which will not only make driving
simpler but also increase vehicle safety and security.

REFERENCES
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[14] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CAN_bus
[15] http://www.can-cia.org
[16] http://www.sae.org
[17] https://www.cars.com/articles/2012/12/nhtsa-fatalities-go-down-as-seat-belt-use-goes-up/
[18] http://indpaedia.com/ind/index.php/Automobile_thefts:_India

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