CAN-Beagle-Cape as open-source hardware

CAN in Automation (CiA) has established the Interest Group “Open-source hardware”. The group’s first project will be a Beagle-cape with an active CAN interface.

“Capes” are add-on boards, which can be mounted on a Beagle-board. Even though the Beagle-board comes with a processor with a CAN interface, it doesn’t offer a transceiver chip. The developed CAN-cape will be based on the STM32 micro-controller in a 64-pin housing. The CAN interface will be connected via a 3,3-V transceiver on a 9-pin D-sub connector. Optionally a second transceiver and a second connector will be available, which will enable access to the CAN interface of the Beagle-board. “All development and production documents will be published on our website,” said Holger Zeltwanger, CiA managing director. The CAN-Beagle-Cape is meant for evaluation purposes, but can also be used for low-volume series. “Apart from professional tinkerers, we expect to see interest from academic circles,” explained Zeltwanger. The cape will also be usable without the Beagle-board.