CANopen is a CAN-based higher layer protocol. It was developed as a standardized embedded network with highly flexible configuration capabilities. CANopen was designed for motion-oriented machine control networks, such as handling systems. By now it is used in various application fields, such as medical equipment, off-road vehicles, maritime electronics, railway applications or building automation.
CANopen unburdens the developer from dealing with CAN-specific details such as bit-timing and implementation-specific functions. It provides standardized communication objects for real-time data, configuration data as well as network management data.

"Plug and play" with CANopen

Standardized CANopen device and application profiles simplify the tasks of integrating a CANopen system. Off-the-shelf devices, tools, and protocol stacks are widely available at reasonable prices. For system designers, it is very important to reuse application software. This requires not only communication compatibility, but also interoperability and interchangeability of devices. CANopen device and application profiles enable device manufacturers to provide their products with standardized interfaces to achieve CANopen devices with "plug and play" capability in CANopen networks. Nevertheless CANopen allows to implement manufacturer-specific functionality.