USB-to-CAN FD Controller
Overview
The VNX Robotics USB-to-CAN FD Controller is a dual-channel, quad-port CAN FD interface that bridges a single USB Type-C host connection to up to four independent CAN FD networks. Two independent MCU + transceiver channels (Side A and Side B) let the board act as two USB-CAN adapters in one, reducing cabling and integration time for multi-bus robotic and industrial platforms.
Each of the four CAN ports runs from 12.5 kbit/s up to 8 Mbit/s and is independently configurable. On-board transient, ESD, and reverse-polarity protection supports 24 V and 48 V systems, and the –40 to +105 °C range allows the board to be mounted directly inside the enclosure it monitors. On Linux, it enumerates as native SocketCAN — no proprietary drivers required.
Key Specifications
| Host Interface | 1 × USB Type-C (Type-C to Type-C cable) |
| CAN Interfaces | 4 × CAN FD (CAN A1, CAN A2, CAN B1, CAN B2) |
| CAN Protocol | CAN FD (ISO 11898-1:2015) and CAN 2.0B |
| CAN Bit Rate | 12.5 kbit/s to 8 Mbit/s, per port |
| Protection | Short-circuit, ESD, reverse-polarity — 24 V / 48 V systems |
| Operating Temperature | –40 °C to +105 °C |
| Power | USB bus-powered, no external supply |
| Expansion | More than 12 CAN connections via multi-board / hub setups |
| Host OS Support | Native SocketCAN on Linux, no additional drive |
System Architecture
CAN / SocketCAN Feature Support
| Feature | Supported |
|---|---|
| Loopback | ✓ Yes |
| Listen-only | – No |
| Triple-sampling | – No |
| One-shot | ✓ Yes |
| Hardware timestamp | – No |
| Bus error reporting | ✓ Yes |
| CAN FD (ISO 11898-1:2015) | ✓ Yes |
| Bitrate switching | ✓ Yes |
| FD Non-ISO mode | – No |
| Presume ACK | – No |
| DLC 9–15 for 8-byte payload | – No |
| Transceiver delay compensation | – No |
Applications
The controller’s four independently configurable CAN FD ports, wide temperature range, and driverless Linux integration make it a natural fit anywhere a system needs to bridge one or more CAN buses to a host computer, embedded PC, or single-board computer.
Robotics
Two isolated channels make it easy to separate motion/safety traffic from sensor/telemetry traffic on the same platform, or to interface two robots from one host:
- Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMR) and AGVs — motor controllers, wheel encoders, battery management systems (BMS), and safety controllers
- Robotic arms and manipulators — joint controllers, force/torque sensors, gripper and end-effector electronics
- Legged and quadruped robots — per-leg actuator buses combined with IMU/sensor buses
- Agricultural and outdoor robots — implement control, GPS/RTK modules, and drive-train CAN buses in a single enclosure
- Drones and UGV ground stations — flight controller / motor ESC CAN telemetry bridged to a ground PC
Industrial Automation
- PLC, drive, and servo motor networks — bridging factory-floor CAN/CANopen buses to SCADA or MES systems
- Conveyor and packaging lines — aggregating multiple machine-cell CAN segments onto one USB host
- Battery and energy-storage systems — BMS monitoring for industrial and EV charging equipment
Test, Development & Diagnostics
- Hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) test benches — simultaneous stimulation and capture on two independent CAN FD buses
- ECU and controller development — flashing, calibration, and protocol development for automotive and off-highway ECUs
- Field service and diagnostics laptops — compact USB-C dongle for on-site fault-finding and commissioning
Data & Remote Operations
- High-rate data logging — capturing CAN FD traffic across four buses in parallel for analysis or machine-learning datasets
- Remote system access — pairing with an edge PC or gateway for remote diagnostics, firmware updates, and fleet telemetry
- Fleet and multi-robot systems — one host managing several vehicles’ or cells’ CAN networks via multi-board / hub expansion
Mechanical & Form Factor
| Board length | 60 mm |
| Board width | 60 mm |
| Board thickness | 8 mm |
| Mounting hole diameter | 4 x 3 mm |