Posted to News on 19th Oct 2012, 14:30
On-board weighing standardised with CANopen
CAN in Automation (CiA) is releasing the first version of the CANopen profile for on-board weighing devices. The standardised interface allows an easy integration into CANopen-based body builder networks. They are installed in commercial trucks (e.g. refuse collecting vehicles), mobile construction machines (e.g. excavators), agriculture and forestry vehicles as well as special-purpose off-road vehicles (e.g. for airports). Typical applications include bulk haulage, waste management, quarries, and logging.
The CiA 459 profile specification consists of three parts. Part 1 contains the general description and provides a functional overview. Part 2 specifies the communication parameters and part 3 standardises the application parameters. An on-board weighing device compliant to this specification collects sensor values from load cells, pre-processes them, and provides the monitored weighing data at the CANopen interface for further evaluation, recording and for overload protection systems. Such a device can monitor the load, can measure the axles' weight, and can transact the weighing (including legal for trade measurements) values.
A non-profit CiA users' and manufacturers' group has developed and maintained the CANopen application layer and profiles for 18 years. CANopen is used in many industries, including mobile working machines and other application fields, in which on-board weighing is necessary. The CiA 459 profile specifies a communication interface with standardised communication (e.g. MPDO) and application parameters (e.g. device command). The next step for CiA is to standardise the interfaces for load-cells, in order to link these sensors by a sub-layered, deeply embedded CANopen network. This allows the integration of third-party sensors.
For further information about the CANopen profile for on-board weighing devices please email [email protected], or visit the website at www.can-cia.org.
