Kvaser’s wireless CAN bridge replaces cables in marine

30th November 2021

Kvaser AB

Tom Anstee

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Configuration-free wireless CAN bridge with M12 connector achieves predictable communication in harsh conditions where wired connection is challenging.

Kvaser, a CAN (Controller Area Network) development, is pleased to introduce the Kvaser Air Bridge Light HS M12, a high-performance wireless CAN bridge with dust and water-resistant M12 connectors.

Comprising a preconfigured pair of wireless units with integrated antennas and rugged housings, the Kvaser Air Bridge Light HS M12 reliably exchanges raw CAN data between two networks when a wired CAN connection is challenging. Released originally with 9-pin D-SUB connectors, this variant meets the increasing demand from environmentally-challenged applications, such as those requiring an optical cable replacement or an alternative to CAN cables that experience high abrasion.

The Kvaser Air Bridge facilitates the job of the system integrator in situations that make wired connection unsuitable or challenging, such as when two moving parts are connected by CAN. Employing a proprietary 2.4GHz radio and frequency hopping mechanism, the Kvaser Air Bridge controls the data rate, radio packet format, output power, and pairing method to achieve predictable latencies without sacrificing stability or range. This configuration makes the Kvaser Air Bridge effective in infrastructure and control applications, where accurate message delivery times are essential. The transmission range is as much as 70 m, with a maximum data rate of 1200 messages per second and a packet latency of 4.8 ms.

Kvaser Air Bridge Light HS M12 is the second model in Kvaser’s Air Bridge product line. This model offers a 5-pin National Marine Electronics Association* (NMEA) compatible CAN connector replacing the 9-pin D-SUB connector on the Kvaser Air Bridge Light HS. Improvements have been made to the firmware to further enhance the Kvaser Air Bridge Light HS M12’s wireless performance, with increased interference immunity and enhanced coexistence mechanisms to increase the co-location capacity of Air Bridge pairs.

The Kvaser Air Bridge Light HS M12 has achieved regulatory compliance and is optimized for use in the European Union (01141-0) and the United States (01148-9). Both models share the same functionality yet have different radio transmission schemes to address regulatory differences.