What vehicle data is required to enable a tractor to steer and drive autonomously? That was the question a customer brought to Beijer Automotive. For an entire week, the tractor was stationed at our facility in Schijndel – an unusual sight in our parking lot – where it underwent extensive analysis. By examining the various CAN networks, we were able to fully map the vehicle communication required for autonomous operation.
From challenge to working solution
The initial question was clear. The client wanted to enable a tractor to operate autonomously but did not know which vehicle data was required for this. The request to Beijer Automotive was to provide insight into this communication so that the client could implement it into their product themselves.
By analyzing communication across various CAN vehicle networks, our engineers were able to determine which messages control key vehicle functions. Ultimately, we not only mapped out the requested functionalities but also identified a large number of additional CAN signals and vehicle data points. With this information, the client can integrate the necessary control and data-reading functions into the software for the self-driving tractor. Thanks to this analysis, the client avoided months of manual CAN message investigation, allowing the development of their autonomous control system to be significantly accelerated.
What did we achieve?
For the analysis, our engineers used uCanAnalyze – our proprietary CAN analysis software – to analyze CAN data quickly and efficiently.
Through CAN reverse engineering, we demonstrated, among other things, that it is possible to:
In addition, we identified and decoded various vehicle signals, including engine speed, vehicle speed, PTO status, engine load, temperatures, oil pressure and fuel consumption. This data provides a valuable foundation for monitoring, validation, and the further development of autonomous functions.
Automotive expertise for the agricultural sector
You might primarily associate Beijer with passenger cars and light commercial vehicles, but we apply our expertise in CAN-bus analysis just as effectively to agricultural machinery. CAN networks and vehicle data are playing an increasingly important role in the agricultural sector as well. By gaining insight into this communication, new functions can be developed or existing applications expanded – for instance, in areas such as automation, monitoring, or machine control.
More information
Are you working on a tractor, agricultural machine, or other vehicle project where access to CAN data is essential? Our engineers are happy to assist you with CAN bus analysis, reverse engineering, and unlocking vehicle functions. Feel free to contact us to discuss the possibilities.
