Nets catch on

Engineers have been slow to adopt networks, but that is changing quickly as electronically controlled engines take hold.

Reduced wiring complexity and simplified integration are well-known benefits of networks, which are seeing increased usage due to the Control Area Network (CAN) that has seen extensive use in the automotive industry for years and is now exploding into the off-highway field. CAN, or J1939, is not new by any stretch, having been used by many OEMs for several years. But it is still a new technology for many vendors.

“There are still a lot of manufacturers who are just getting their feet wet with CAN,” said Dan Ricklefs, Product Portfolio Manager at Sauer-Danfoss Mobile Electronics Division.