Tatweer T-CAN — CAN Bus Debugger
Compact dual-channel CAN bus analyzer and debugger for automotive diagnostics, built around ESP32 and MCP2515, deployed and tested in real vehicles
Project Overview
Designed and built the Tatweer T-CAN, a compact dual-channel CAN bus debugger for automotive diagnostics and development. The device connects directly to a vehicle’s CAN bus wiring harness, captures and decodes CAN frames in real time, and transmits data wirelessly via Wi-Fi. It was successfully tested and deployed inside real vehicles.
Final Tatweer T-CAN unit (left) and the device installed and connected to a vehicle's CAN wiring harness during in-car testing (right).
PCB top view showing the ESP32-WROVER-E module and dual CAN channels (left), PCB bottom view with MCP2515 CAN controller (center), and size comparison showing the ultra-compact form factor (right).
Key Features
- Dual CAN Channels: CAN0 and CAN1 for simultaneous multi-bus monitoring
- ESP32-WROVER-E: Wi-Fi connectivity for wireless frame streaming and remote access
- MCP2515 CAN Controller: Reliable SPI-based CAN frame decode and transmission
- OBD-II Compatible: Direct connection to vehicle wiring harnesses via multi-wire connector
- USB Connectivity: USB-C for power and firmware updates; micro-USB for auxiliary functions
- Compact Enclosure: Tiny black housing (Tatweer T-CAN branding) fits inside dashboards
- Real-Vehicle Tested: Validated by deployment and testing inside actual cars
Hardware Architecture
| Component | Role |
|---|---|
| ESP32-WROVER-E | Main processor + Wi-Fi for wireless data streaming |
| MCP2515 | CAN controller (SPI interface), handles CAN0 & CAN1 |
| SPI Bus | Connects ESP32 to MCP2515 |
| Multi-wire connector | Interfaces with vehicle CAN H/L lines and power |
| USB-C port | Power input and firmware flashing |
Technologies & Tools
- Altium Designer — PCB schematic and layout
- ESP32 (Arduino / ESP-IDF) — firmware development
- MCP2515 CAN library — frame parsing and filtering
- CAN bus protocol — ISO 11898 standard
- In-vehicle testing and validation
Key Achievements
✅ Dual-channel CAN bus capture and decode in real time
✅ Wireless data streaming via ESP32 Wi-Fi
✅ Ultra-compact form factor fitting inside vehicle dashboards
✅ Successfully deployed and validated in real vehicles