Installing a CAN- Do Attitude

The "elevator pitch" for Project Zeus should get people wanting more: An advanced propulsion system, it delivers a high level of safety, 30% better fuel economy, unsurpassed handling at high and low speeds, unparalleled systems integration and increased power density. Prodded for further details, Zeus sounds even better. However, you should know that the industry this CAN-based system is making a splash in is the recreational marine market, specifically high-dollar yachts. The technology that brought Zeus to life can be quickly applied to land-based mobile equipment where it will make work easier for the product development team, as well as the machine's operator.

The integration of digital information and mechatronic controls is giving on- and off-highway equipment a range of new capabilities. Already integrated into machines in a number of different industries, CAN has yet to meet its horizon. hile product development teams and end-users become more comfortable with implementing the protocol system on their equipment, component suppliers continue to advance the technology.

With four wires - input, output, power, and ground - making up its central wiring harness, the Controller Area Network (CAN) bus (Binary Unit System) system is an improvement over traditional wire-heavy designs. Going a step further, wireless CAN systems are now possible, enabling communication between multiple points on the machine as well as to implements or a technician's computer.

Meanwhile, suppliers work toward offering the hardware and software solutions required to supply entire systems. In a CAN bus layout, controllers manage specific areas while talking to each other. Writing the software that enabled that communication was a time-consuming, complex process. Creating that code is now easier.

Water wings

Developed by Brunswick Corp. divisions Mercury Marine, Cummins MerCruiser Diesel (a joint venture between Cummins and Mercury Marine) and MotoTron, Project Zeus brings technology that is common in planes and automobiles to yachts.

"The tremendous range of technical expertise at Brunswick allows a seamless approach to propulsion technology, marine electronics and on-board information management," says Dusty McCoy, chairman and CEO, Brunswick.

MotoTron's contribution will work in on- and off-highway mobile equipment. MotoTron itself was born in the marine industry. In the early 1990s boat manufacturers faced emissions regulations that would require advanced electronics systems. To gain the expertise, Fond du Lac, WI-based Mercury Marine recruited engineers from the car industry.

After placing several successful marine projects in their portfolio, the Mercury Marine group saw an opportunity to work with companies beyond Brunswick. With management's blessing, MotoTron was founded in 2000 as a separate entity to enter the on- and off-highway markets. Today it works closely with sister companies like Mercury Marine and the Brunswick Boat Group (brands such as Sea Ray), while also working with land-based applications. It is currently working closely with Parker-Hannifin on its RunWise hydraulic hybrid truck.

Headquartered just north of Fond du Lac in Oshkosh, MotoTron has 100 employees in Ann Arbor, MI; Columbus, IN; Ft. Collins, CO; Oshkosh, WI, and a network of supply partners.

"As the group worked on Brunswick's proprietary CAN network (marketed as SmartCraft), they knew the investment required to be at the top of the game in mechatronic system integration was very high," says Rich Swortzel, director of business development, MotoTron, Ann Arbor. "They knew they had to share that investment."

That's the sales pitch for MotoTron beyond Brunswick: Niche manufacturers in the off-highway industry must focus on their strengths. The technology required to meet electronic challenges and stay abreast of updates represents a tremendous investment - one that usually does not appeal to stockholders. Outsourcing that development to a specialist can make financial and practical sense.