10 Best Controller Area Network Can Bus Courses and Certifications Online

In recent years, Controller Area Network (CAN) bus technology has become increasingly prevalent in various industries. As a result, there has been a growing demand for professionals with expertise in CAN bus systems. Fortunately, numerous online courses have emerged to provide individuals with the knowledge and skills necessary to design, implement, and troubleshoot CAN bus networks. This article reviews some of the best online courses available for those seeking to enhance their proficiency in CAN bus technology.

Here’s a look at the Best Controller Area Network Can Bus Courses and Certifications Online and what they have to offer for you!

10 Best Controller Area Network Can Bus Courses and Certifications Online

1. An Introduction to the Controller Area Network (CAN) Bus by Emile Ackbarali (Udemy) (Our Best Pick)

This course, “An Introduction to the Controller Area Network (CAN) Bus,” is designed to teach the fundamentals of the CAN Bus using both theoretical and practical approaches. CAN Bus, which stands for “Controller Area Network” Bus, is a widely used technology that allows microcontrollers and devices to communicate with one another in applications without a host computer. It is a message-based protocol that was designed initially for multiplex electrical wiring within automobiles, but is now used in many other contexts such as medical, military, and aviation equipment.

The course instructor, Emile Ackbarali, aims to provide a practical understanding of the protocol by demonstrating how to use CAN Bus hardware and software. The course covers topics such as the network arbitration method used by CAN Bus, the data packet structure and functions of CAN Bus, and building a simple CAN Bus network. Participants will also learn how to monitor the CAN Bus network using the VCAN Bus Analyzer and take a closer look at the CAN Bus data packet structure.

The course includes a bonus section on how to always get the lowest prices for the instructor’s courses. While there is a lot of information available on CAN Bus on the internet, this course provides a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience with the technology. By the end of the course, participants will have expanded their expertise and opportunities in designing and building equipment in various fields such as automotive, medical, military, and aviation.

2. Master CAN protocol completely from Scratch (CAN + CAN-FD) by Shyam Bhat (Udemy)

The Master CAN Protocol Completely from Scratch (CAN + CAN-FD) course is offered by instructor Shyam Bhat. The course is designed for students of all levels, including beginners and experts in the field. The course description promises to teach everything about the CAN protocol, including theoretical and practical components, and the CAN FD protocol. The CANALYSER tool used in the automotive industry for testing CAN implementation in ECUs is also demonstrated. The course does not require any pre-requisites, and students will become experts in the topic after completing the course. Additionally, students will be well-prepared to answer any CAN-related interview questions. The course is divided into sections that cover Introduction, CAN Protocol Basics, CAN Frame, CAN Protocol Concepts, CAN Error Handling, CAN FD (Controller Area Network – Flexible Data), CAN -Practical Part, and Assessment.

3. Mastering CAN Network: Vector CANoe,CANalyzer, CAPL& Theory by Gianluca Mottola (Udemy)

This course titled “Mastering CAN Network: Vector CANoe, CANalyzer, CAPL & Theory” is designed to teach the theory and practical aspects of the CAN network. The course is instructed by Gianluca Mottola. The objective of this course is to learn the general network communication principles and understand the OSI layer.

The course includes detailed information about the CAN OSI physical layer and the analysis of a real CAN network in real vehicles. It also covers automotive harness issues and the functions of the CAN transceiver with the related electronic circuit. The course focuses on teaching the Vector CANOE software, the CAPL language to stimulate CAN messages on a real CAN network, and the CAN network database (CAN DB++).

The course teaches how to define CAN nodes, messages, signals, assign value tables to CAN signals, and define relevant value attributes to run the CAN simulation properly. It includes the CAN interactive generator block, CAN replay block, CAN log acquisition, and fields of the CAN trace window. The course also covers visual panel programming, such as switching on a virtual car engine, virtual acceleration and deceleration, and showing of the engine speed on an analog gauge.

The course includes integral videos that show what is happening in real-time without any cut-and-paste video recordings. The instructor explains step by step, starting from beginner level to advanced level, to help students become an automotive expert. The course content is divided into sections such as introduction, CAN protocol THEORY, VECTOR HARDWARE & SOFTWARE CONFIGURATION, VECTOR CANdb++, VECTOR CANoe, and VECTOR CAPL programming.

The other sections include visual programming with PANELs, creating a GATEWAY node on the CAN network, making a LOG acquisition of an entire Vehicle CAN network, interactive generator block, and signal generator block. The course also covers the reply generator block and filtering CAN messages. The final section includes resume building and finding a job in the testing automotive field, followed by a Q&A session.

4. Controller Area Network-Indepth analysis of CAN BUS/Protocol by ChandraShekar K (Udemy)

This course delves into the Controller Area Network (CAN) protocol, which is widely used in the automotive industry. The course covers the evolution of communication protocols in the automotive domain, leading up to the development of CAN. Key concepts such as arbitration, broadcast mechanism, differential bus concept, noise cancellation, and frame format are discussed in-depth. Additionally, challenges faced by professionals working with CAN networks are explored, as well as the need for higher layer protocols like J1939 and ARINC 825.

The course includes both theoretical and practical components. The practical aspect is facilitated by a CAN Protocol Self Learning Kit, which comprises a CAN Bus Analyzer, Configurable CAN Nodes, and relevant software. This hands-on learning tool provides a cost-effective platform for students and professionals to gain practical experience working with CAN networks.

The course is structured to first introduce the story and background of CAN Bus, followed by an overview of embedded serial communication and protocols such as UART, SPI Bus, and I2C Bus. The core content of the course is an in-depth analysis of the CAN Protocol, covering both theoretical and practical aspects. Finally, an overview of higher layer protocols like J1939 is provided.

Overall, this course provides a comprehensive understanding of the CAN Protocol and its practical applications in the automotive industry.

5. CAN and LIN Communication Protocols by Venkatesh Mane (Udemy)

This course offers an overview of the Controller Area Network (CAN) and Local Interconnect Network (LIN) automotive communication protocols. The course covers the reasons for the development of CAN and LIN, a comparison of CAN with other serial communication protocols, and the CAN vehicle network architecture. The course also delves into the features, frame formats, arbitration process, error handling and detection, and differential voltage concept of the CAN protocol.

The course covers the different types of errors that can occur in the CAN protocol such as bit-stuff error, CRC error, ACK error, and fixed-form error. It also discusses the CAN node interfacing levels and transceivers, as well as the physical layer of CAN which includes CAN nodes, CAN bus voltage levels and node interfacing techniques, CAN bit timings, and baud rate settings.

In addition to CAN, the course also provides an overview of the LIN protocol, including its features, frame formats, and physical layer which includes LIN nodes, LIN bus voltage levels, and node interfacing techniques. The course offers bonus practical sessions on CAN network analysis tools, CAN database creation, and building a CAN network using Simulink-on-Arduino platform.

The course also includes a section on the basics of Flexray communication protocol, as well as a bonus section on AUTOSAR introduction, which is a limited period offer. However, the topics of PID calculation, checksum calculation, and error detection and handling will be added soon. The limitations of the CAN protocol are also discussed, and a comparison between CAN and LIN is provided.

6. How to Program an Arduino for CAN bus Network Communication by Emile Ackbarali (Udemy)

This course titled “How to Program an Arduino for CAN bus Network Communication” is designed to teach students how to build and program Arduino hardware for the purpose of implementing CAN bus network communication. The course is aimed at individuals who will be working with CAN bus in their job, as the protocol is commonly used in embedded systems.

The course will use the Arduino system due to its popularity, affordability, and ease of use, with ample support resources available online. The objective of the course is for students to be able to build and test their own CAN bus network using the components and techniques demonstrated in the lectures. This will prepare them to confidently discuss their experience in a job interview setting.

The course is divided into six sections: Introduction, The Hardware and Software We Will Be Using, Wiring of the I/O Devices and CAN bus Connection, Writing and Running the Code to Test the I/O Devices, Designing our CAN bus Network, and Writing and Running the Code to Implement CAN bus Communication. The bonus section will provide information on how to access the instructor’s future courses at a discounted price.

7. The Essential Guide to Controller Area Network (CAN Bus) by Mohamed Imzel (Udemy)

The Essential Guide to Controller Area Network (CAN Bus) is a course offered by Mohamed Imzel that delves into the basics of CAN Bus. The CAN bus was created to provide a solution for serial communication in automotive vehicles, with the goal of managing commands sent to various car accessories. The course aims to provide a simple explanation of CAN Bus fundamentals to enable better understanding of its function. The course is structured to cover multiplexing, the history of CAN Bus, its components, advantages, and disadvantages, as well as the existing frames on the bus. The course also covers error handling, nominal bit time, and troubleshooting.

The course starts with a presentation on the principle of multiplexing and provides a brief history of CAN Bus. This section helps to understand the main characteristics of the bus and its components, advantages, and disadvantages. The next section covers the role of the CAN bus in error handling, a crucial element as the bus operates in a harsh environment. The notion of nominal bit time is also covered to provide an understanding of how synchronization of different elements that communicate in the bus is achieved. The final module covers troubleshooting to help eliminate common errors in the wiring of CAN networks.

The course is structured into seven sections, starting with Getting Started followed by CAN Bus Presentation, CAN Bus Characteristics, CAN Bus Frame Structure, CAN Bus Error Handling, The Nominal Bit Time (NBT), CAN Bus Troubleshooting, and Summary. By the end of the course, learners are expected to have a better understanding of CAN Bus fundamentals, including its structure, communication, and error handling.

8. Controller Area Network(CAN) by Venkatesh Mane, Reshma Mane (Udemy)

The Controller Area Network (CAN) course is designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the CAN protocol. The course is instructed by Venkatesh Mane and Reshma Mane.

The course offers a short description as well as a long description. The short description highlights the course’s focus on the automotive communication protocol CAN. The long description offers more detail, including an overview of the CAN protocol and the reasons for its development. The long description also includes a comparison of CAN with other serial communication protocols, an explanation of the ISO-OSI layers of CAN, and a discussion of the CAN vehicle network architecture.

Additionally, the course covers the features of the CAN protocol and frame formats of CAN. There are three main sections to the course: Fundamentals of Controller Area Network, CAN Protocol basics, and CAN physical and data link layer.

The CAN physical layer section covers CAN nodes, CAN Bus voltage levels, node interfacing techniques, CAN bit timings, and baud rate settings. The CAN data link layer section covers CAN Bus arbitration and CAN Bus Fault Confinement.

Overall, the Controller Area Network course provides a comprehensive understanding of the CAN protocol, its features, and its application in the automotive industry.

9. From Controller Area Network (CAN bus) to Real-Time System by Martin Jankela (Udemy)

The “From Controller Area Network (CAN bus) to Real-Time System” course is a follow-up to the Automotive Networks course. This course primarily focuses on the application of the Controller Area Network (CAN) within the domain of distributed real-time systems. The course begins with an introduction followed by a walk-through of the BOSCH protocol specification details. The course then delves deeply into the Controller Area Network and explains the latest design approaches to develop good large distributed CAN networks. The course explains the benefits and challenges of CAN and builds an Arduino example.

The course also discusses the requirements that real-time systems such as cars, trains, medical or aircraft impose. Additionally, the course shows you some tools used in the industry and how to check your CAN designs against real-time requirements. The course covers design pitfalls and addresses security. The course is structured to cover all market-relevant topics on the Controller Area Network to make you ready to have deep discussions with experts from the industry.

After attending this course, you will be able to understand and talk about basics of CAN, the BOSCH specification, extensions to CAN, requirements for real-time systems, CAN benefits and pitfalls, timing analysis of CAN networks, CAN industry standards and tools, CAN security challenges, and have the foundation to move on to other automotive network communication protocols.

The course is designed to be as easy to digest as possible on the topics presented. While it is considered a network protocol “beginners” course to work in the industry, it is not to be confused with an “absolute” beginners course on electronics or computer science. Understanding source code, basic boolean algebra, and familiarity working with specifications will help. Comparable courses are part of a Masters’s Degree curriculum, and a Bachelor’s level understanding of Computer Science, Mathematics, or Electrical Engineering is recommended.

10. CAN protocol: Basic to Advance by Codutor Academy (Udemy)

This course, offered by Codutor Academy, is titled “CAN protocol: Basic to Advance” and provides detailed knowledge about the Controller Area Network (CAN) protocol. CAN is a two-wire serial bus communication protocol that is widely used in various domains, including automotive, industrial automation, building automation, aerospace, and marine. This course introduces the basic architecture, components, acknowledgment mechanism, error handling, simulator introduction, and message filtering mechanism of CAN protocol. It also covers how to use a low-cost CAN bus analyzer (PCAN-view) to practice on your own, and interview-related questions for entry-level engineers to prepare for job interviews.

The course focuses on the importance of CAN, as it is the most widely adopted communication protocol in the automotive industry, where career growth chances are high. The knowledge of CAN is also beneficial in other industries that are gradually adopting it. After completing this course, learners will develop a detailed understanding of CAN protocol, including its applications, architecture, frames, bit stuffing mechanism, message ID filtering, acknowledgment mechanism, error frames, error counters, and introduction to CAN simulator.

The course content includes an introduction to CAN protocol, its applications, and architecture. It also covers CAN frames, acknowledgment, bit stuffing, CAN message filtering, and errors. The course provides an introduction to the CAN simulator, and interview questions to assist learners in preparing for job interviews. Additionally, example code for CAN will be updated soon in the course. The course ends with a revision section to consolidate the knowledge gained during the course.