AstroCAN Development Information
This is an overview of the recent development progress of the AstroCAN series. Here you can see, what is planned for the future or already finished. All the modules will be upgraded from time to time do gain new or improved functionality. We hope, the matrix will be fully green in a couple of months.
The modules are developed in four main stages:
- Stage 1: Producing new hardware that is CAN-enabled, but for the most part still works in classic builds. This stage is more or less finished except for smaller fun add-ons. These modules only have very rudimentary CAN functionality built into the software. It was important for us to see how the CAN approach performs.
- Stage 2: The software is adapted so that the CONTROL of the respective functions is done via CAN commands; once that’s done, we’ll go back to the ‘classics’ like ShadowMD and equip them with the option of sending CAN commands via the shield. At some point, however, Shadow will be phased out and replaced by the new central module (The Brain).
- Stage 2.5: The software will periodically send status messages, that can be watched by any other CAN module
- Stage 3: The software is adapted so that the CONFIGURATION of the respective modules is done via CAN commands.
- Stage 4: Firmware updates via CAN.
Status 10. January 2025
| Module | Hardware | CAN-Bus ready | CAN-Bus controllable | CAN-Bus configurable | Compatible to Classics | Stage | Overall Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AstroCAN Shield | finalized | yes | – | – | yes | Stage 2 | Module can be used to upgrade classic builds to be ready for AstroCAN-Series |
| AstroCAN Bridge | finalized | yes | – | no, work in progress | yes | Stage 2 | Module can be used to upgrade classic builds to be ready for AstroCAN-Series. It also can be used for wireless Dome<->Body communication. |
| AstroCAN AutoDome | finalized | yes | no, work in progress | no, work in progress | yes | Stage 2 | Module can be used to upgrade classic builds to be ready for AstroCAN-Series. It also can be used as a Syren(TM) motor driver replacement. |
| AstroCAN 232 | finalized | yes | yes | no, work in progress | no | Stage 2 | AstroCAN-only module |
| AstroCAN Body Lights Kit | finalized | yes | no, work in progress | no, work in progress | yes | Stage 1 | Kit that controls: – DPL – CBI – CSL – LDPL – UAL |
| AstroCAN CSL+ | finalized | yes | – | no, work in progress | yes | Stage 1 | CSL Kit with additional buttons to control CAN-bus actions. |
| AstroCAN BD-1 Logics | classic non-CAN module with AstroCAN Toolkit | no | no | no | yes | Stage 1 | Standard BD-1 Logics Display with ESP hardware. Can be upgraded to CAN. Already capable of ESP-NOW |
| AstroCAN Brain | prototype | yes | – | – | yes | – | Module can be used to upgrade classic builds to be ready for AstroCAN-Series. It replaces the old Arduino Mega + USB-Shield option |
| AstroCAN DomeLift | prototype | yes | yes | no | yes | Stage 1 | Matthew Zwarts compatible Dome Lift Controller |
| AstroCAN Servo Controller | planned | – | – | – | – | – | Replacement for ancient MarcDuino hardware |