CAN-Do! is a micro-controller widget which is designed to be an interface between the various modules (main computer, instruments, sensors, actuators) and the avionics bus. The avionics bus in this case is based on the CAN-bus (Controller-area network), which is already widely used in the automotive industry for connecting the increasing number of ECUs found in cars.

The CAN-Do! interface widget has been developed by AMSAT Deutschland e.V. and AMSAT North America and it will be used in future amateur radio satellites that are currently under development. Both the hardware and firmware are open sourced and freely available on the CAN-Do! website.

Earlier this year we started a project with the objective of evaluating the CAN-bus and the AMSAT CAN-Do! interface widget with respect to using it on-board our spacecrafts – the lunar bus and the lunar lander. A few prototype units have been manufactured and are now ready to be tested in simulated environments.

This is already a great example of how on open source space project can benefit from another open source space project!

From CAN-Do!