Cummins has unveiled an innovative open-source project aimed at revolutionizing commercial vehicle telematics: Eclipse CANought. This initiative, part of the Eclipse Foundation’s Software Defined Vehicle (SDV) project, focuses on standardizing and securing access to the controller area network (CAN) bus, which is essential for interconnecting vehicle Electronic Control Units (ECUs).
In collaboration with Bosch Global Software and KPIT Technologies, Cummins aims to enhance the capabilities of telematics applications. By standardizing access to the CAN bus, Eclipse CANought will streamline processes such as over-the-air software updates, significantly reducing both development time and costs associated with connectivity applications.
Enhancing Application Development Efficiency
Eclipse CANought promises to simplify the software integration process for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and suppliers. This initiative not only provides standardized access to vehicle ECUs but also builds upon the existing Eclipse Kanto project, which addresses application deployment on telematics devices.
Carlton Bale, director of Digital Product Planning at Cummins, emphasized the project’s significance: “Kanto addresses how applications can run on a telematics device. The next step is ensuring your application can communicate with the ECU.” He noted that variations in CAN libraries and hardware configurations often create new challenges for developers, complicating communication with ECUs.
By collaborating with KPIT and Bosch, Cummins has identified an opportunity to create a user-friendly API that abstracts CAN access from the underlying hardware, easing the integration process for developers.
Prioritizing Third-Party Security
Eclipse CANought adopts a two-pronged approach to security. It introduces a straightforward API while implementing a robust security manager that restricts ECU access to trusted applications. Bale explained, “The first level of security allows OEMs or aftermarket telematics providers to select which applications can be installed on the device.”
Furthermore, he highlighted the importance of managing CAN communication: “We must enforce restrictions on CAN access as well. Boundaries are established around both the application and the CAN interface.”
This focus on security sets Eclipse CANought apart from previous telematics solutions, addressing concerns about third-party applications. “In the past, there was little trust in third-party applications due to security vulnerabilities,” Bale noted. “Now, we provide a secure environment that ensures these applications operate within controlled boundaries, preventing unauthorized actions.”
Eclipse CANought marks a significant advancement in the telematics landscape, enhancing development efficiency and bolstering security, paving the way for safer and more effective commercial vehicle applications.
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