Research Of CAN Network Simulation Orientating Application Prototype Development

CAN (Controller Area Network) control systems on automotive has become moreand more complex, and the traditional development method which first developshardware then software, reduces the development efficiency of CAN applications. Thelag in software development and testing due to hardware not yet in place could causea predicament, so how to get rid of the predicament in order to shorten cycle andimprove efficiency in CAN applications development has become a problem which isurgent to be solved in the course of automotive electronic systems development.However, application prototype development contributes to solving the problem.The construction of simulation platform and environment for target hardware isthe key in CAN application prototype development. Therefore, the present thesissimulated functions of a CAN controller’s registers by taking the controller as thesimulation target, combining with the mechanisms and excutive process of the virtualembedded development board platform, SkyEye, implemented a CAN network whichis consisted of some virtual CAN nodes by using the SocketCAN network protocolstack functionality. So, the hardware simulation platform and environment wasconstructed in order to develope and test CAN communication application prototype.The major work is as follows.First of all, this paper introducted the method of prototype development andoverviewed the CAN bus basis, then immediately analysied the simulation mechanismof the embedded system simulation platform, SKyEye, particularly studied thesimulation methods and execution process of its peripheral in depth, laying thefoundation for simulating the subsequent prototype development platform of CANapplications.Secondly, simulation demands of the virtual CAN network node were proposed,through analyzing functions of internal structure, registers and RAM by taking CANcontroller SJA1000as a example. And then the simulation ideas was designed bycustomizing CAN controller’s functions and combining the operating principle ofSkyEye prepherials, in order to ensure the normal communication. Next, the CANcontroller’s functions simulation were implemented according to simulatin frameworkof SkyEye prepherial. The work includes designing data structure, configuration andinitialization, providing IO access API to the virtual microcontroller, transmitting and receiving messages. So, a CAN application prototype development platform wasestablished based on SkyEye.Again, this paper proposed the simulation requirements of CAN networkcommunication through analyzing CAN bus communication principles andcharateristics. And then a communication proposal of SocketCAN was select bycomparing the CAN network communication protocol stack SocketCAN and LinCAN.And next, the communication between the virtual CAN nodes was implemented viaVCAN interface based on SocketCAN. Thus, a complete virtual CAN hardwareenvironment was set up to run and test CAN application prototype.Lastly, some CAN communication application prototypes were developed onTOPPERS/ASP operating system in order to verificate the functions of the virtualCAN controller and meanwhile assess the virtual CAN network. The results ofsimulation execution and experiments showed that the function simulation of the CANcontroller and CAN network was correct, and they could be used to develope and testcommunication application in medium-low speed CAN network at early stage.