Desenvolvimento de um emulador de rede CAN com ESP32 para simulação e teste de painéis de instrumentos automotivos

Abstract

Automotive instrument panel validation is hampered by the need for the vehicle to be present at the test site to generate CAN network signals, which increases costs and creates logistical barriers for module repair professionals. In this context, to reduce costs and simplify the repairer's daily work, this paper presents the development of a CAN network emulator. It is an open-source data-based interface tool capable of emulating the signals from a body control unit, allowing the operation of a vehicle's dashboard on a bench without the need for the vehicle to be present. For implementation, an ESP32 microcontroller was used in conjunction with the SN65HVD230 CAN transceiver module, responsible for reading user commands and generating data frames. These frames are injected into a bus, replicating the vehicle's original communication. System validation, using a Peugeot 308 dashboard, demonstrated the emulator's ability to accurately trigger all dashboard indicators, with high temporal stability, proving its technical viability as a tool for functional bench testing and support for automotive development.