6. Core Features
This chapter will show you some of the various applications of the ValueCAN 4-1.
Each of section contains an example application, and where possible, step-by-step instructions are provided for those who wish to duplicate the results on their own device. The goal of this chapter is specifically to assist those who are new to Intrepid Control Systems’ hardware and software. Simplified examples for users to follow are provided. Advanced users may wish to skim or even skip to the last 2 examples.
The examples use Intrepid Control Systems’ Vehicle Spy. It is the ideal tool for working with your ValueCAN 4-1. Due to the complexity of Vehicle Spy, only the basics necessary are described for the examples; for full details on this software tool, please see the separate Vehicle Spy documentation.
6.1. Monitoring CAN Network
The most basic use of the ValueCAN 4-1 is to monitor the activity on conventional CAN vehicle networks.
Once the device is configured correctly, follow the example to see how the ValueCAN 4-1 can monitor CAN traffic on a bench network using Vehicle Spy 3.
Assuming that your network already has CAN messages being transmitted by other devices, you can monitor that traffic with these steps:
1. Launch Vehicle Spy: Start Vehicle Spy by double-clicking its icon or selecting it from the “Windows Start Menu”.
2. Select ValueCAN 4-1: On the “Logon Screen”, select the ValueCAN 4-1 if it does not already have a checkmark next to it. To do so, right-click the device name and choose “Select Hardware” (Figure 19).
Figure 19: Selecting the ValueCAN 4-1 from the Logon Screen of Vehicle Spy.
3. Go Online: Press the blue button in the top left corner of Vehicle Spy.
The program will go online and automatically switch to “Messages View”, showing you the incoming traffic. An example can be found in Figure 20, which shows CAN messages that are being transmitted to the ValueCAN 4-1. By default, messages sharing the same Arbitration ID (Arb ID) will be shown with the latest update of data bytes available (Static View). If you prefer to see the messages in chronological order, press the “Scroll” button located just above the message display.
Figure 20: Monitoring Message Traffic in Vehicle Spy Using the ValueCAN 4-1.
Notice that the CAN messages are shown in their raw form, with arbitration IDs and data bytes. If you have a database matching the message traffic being monitored, you can load it into a platform. Vehicle Spy will decode the messages and show the signals within each. For details on how to accomplish this, please consult the Vehicle Spy documentation.
6.2. Transmitting on Conventional Vehicle Networks
In addition to monitoring network traffic with the ValueCAN 4-1, you can generate and transmit traffic of your own. This is done by creating and then transmitting a custom CAN message on the HS CAN channel.
Make sure the ValueCAN 4-1 is connected to your vehicle network, refer back to Section 3 as needed. Then follow these steps to create and transmit a message:
1. Launch Vehicle Spy: Start Vehicle Spy by double-clicking its desktop icon or selecting it from the “Windows Start” menu.
2. Select ValueCAN 4: On the logon screen, select the “ValueCAN 4-1” if it is not already selected: right-click the device name and choose “Select Hardware”.
3. Load Messages Editor: Choose “Spy Networks” from the top menu bar then select “Messages Editor”.
4. Select Transmit Messages: Click “Transmit” found left, below the top menu bar.
5. Create Transmit Message: To the right of the drop-down box that currently shows “HS CAN”, click the button.
Vehicle Spy will generate a new HS CAN transmit message called “Tx Message HS CAN 1”, preset with default values.
Figure 21: A Default Transmit Message Created in Vehicle Spy.
Next, we will change the default message by assigning an arbitration ID to it, adding a signal, and renaming it.
6. Set Message to Arbitration ID 7E0: Under the “Arb ID” column for the message, enter the value “7E0”.
7. Add Message Signal: In the middle of the screen, find “Signals in Message”; just below this click the
button. A signal called “Signal 0” is created.
8. Rename Message Signal: Under the Description column, double-click “Signal 0” and change the name to “Engine Speed”.
As seen in Figure 22, the signal should appear as “Engine Speed” according to Step 8 above.
Figure 22: Vehicle Spy Transmit Message with Arb ID and Named Signal.
The Tx Panel will be used to specify a simple static value to send in that signal, and then instruct Vehicle Spy to transmit the message periodically.
9. Load Tx Panel: Select “Tx Panel” from the “Spy Networks” menu.
10. Select Message: Click on “HS CAN Message 1” under “Description” on the left side of the screen.
11. Select Transmission Rate: The message by default is set to “Periodic” transmissions, but the rate says “None”. Double-click in this field, scroll down and choose “0.100”.
12. Set Signal Data Value: On the right side of the screen, double-click under “Value” for the Engine Speed signal, and enter “207”. (You may need to first move the vertical divider bar that seperates the two halves of the Tx Panel, by clicking on it and dragging it to the left.)
The Tx Panel in Vehicle Spy should now appear similar to Figure 23. Our custom message is ready to transmit.
Figure 23: Vehicle Spy Tx Panel with 100 Millisecond Periodic Rate Set and Signal Value Assigned
Switch to “Messages View” and go online to see the message being transmitted on the CAN network.
13. Switch to Messages View: Select “Messages” from the “Spy Networks” menu.
14. Go Online: Press the blue arrow button in the top left corner of Vehicle Spy.
You will be able to see a new “Message HS CAN 1” message show up about every 100 ms as shown in Figure 24. Notice the green dot under the Tx column which labels this as a transmitted message.
15. Expand Message: Press the + sign to the left of “Message HS CAN 1”.
Vehicle Spy shows you the “Engine Speed” signal with the value we set in both decimal (207) and hexadecimal (0xCF).
Figure 24: Vehicle Spy Messages View Showing Custom Transmitted Message and Signal
Naturally, in a real example you would want to create a more realistic depiction of engine speed. This can be done in a variety of ways in Vehicle Spy, such as writing a function block program to describe engine behavior and control message transmission. Please refer to the Vehicle Spy documentation, Intrepid Control Systems’ website, or tech support for examples of transmits and simulation of frames.
6.3. CoreMini Scripting
The ValueCAN 4-1 is capable of running CoreMini scripts independent of a PC, or while connected to a PC and running Vehicle Spy.
Once a script is loaded into the ValueCAN 4-1, it can run in one of two ways:
- With a script loaded into the device, connect the ValueCAN 4-1 to a USB charger, power bank, or other USB power source that does not enumerate the ValueCAN 4-1. The ValueCAN 4-1 will run the script once power is applied and the ValueCAN 4-1 is not enumerated or connected to a PC.
- Connect the ValueCAN 4-1 to a standard USB port on a computer. When sending the script to the device, use the “Run CoreMini after download” option. This will run the script in the hardware and Vehicle Spy can be used at the same time and perform additional tasks concurrently. The ValueCAN 4-1 will function in this manner until the script is cleared or disconnected from the USB port.
Please consult the Vehicle Spy documentation for more information on CoreMini scripting.
6.4. neoVI API
The ValueCAN 4-1 comes with support for full APIs that allows you to control the device from other software packages or custom-written software. For instructions on using the APIs, please consult its documentation on the Intrepid Control Systems’ website at: https://docs.intrepidcs.com/neovi-api