Babel in a plastic enclosure

Babel

Advanced USB-CAN and UART-CAN adapter that can be used as a standalone device or as an embeddable module for OEM.

Babel is an advanced USB-CAN and UART-CAN adapter designed for use with Cyphal/CAN, UAVCAN v0, and other CAN bus protocols. It can be used either as a complete standalone tool, as a development platform for Cyphal-centric applications, or as an OEM component in larger systems.

Applications

  • General-purpose USB-CAN or UART-CAN adapter.
  • Diagnostic, monitoring, and development tool for Cyphal/CAN networks.
  • Generic CAN development board.
  • Programmable CAN unit in OEM applications.

Babel is primarily intended for Cyphal/CAN applications, although other CAN bus protocols are supported equally well. We recommend the Yakut CLI tool for use with Babel; however, there is a wide selection of software products that can talk with SLCAN adapters and therefore are compatible with Babel, too.

Features

  • Low latency. The overall latency between the USB port on the host system and the CAN bus is under 1 millisecond.
  • High throughput. The device handles over 5000 frames per second in either direction continuously.
  • Standard UCANPHY connectors.
  • Proper prioritization of outgoing CAN frames. The adapter schedules outgoing frames properly, avoiding the inner priority inversion problem in the transmission queue.
  • Large RX buffer allows the device to handle short-term traffic bursts without frame losses when interfaced via low-speed UART.
  • Embedded software-controlled 120Ω termination resistor.
  • The CAN bus can be powered from USB via a software-controlled bus power switch. This enables, among other things, easy testing and configuration of Cyphal/CAN-interfaced peripherals.
  • Quasi-standard SLCAN interface (a.k.a. LAWICEL) to the host system makes the adapter compatible with a variety of software products available on the market.
  • No drivers needed for Windows, macOS, GNU/Linux.

Testimonials

“My experience with Zubax Babel is very positive. It is helping me a lot to develop my projects, and is a very useful tool. Its simplicity and effectiveness are of great value. Thanks for your great product and communication protocol!”

- Marcel Lucas Fernandes de Siqueira (Electronics Engineer at Turbomachine)

Related announcements and discussions

Myxa Zubax uavcan.equipment.esc.Status
VIDEO: Introduction to OpenCyphal - Alexander Entinger
Telega v0 m.max_eangvel and m.max_current parameters
Telega v0 DroneCAN (UAVCAN v0) ESC status message priority
Zubax Myxa compatibility with PX4
Does Zubax_Orel_20 support low 3-5 voltage?
Problems with Babel & DroneCAN GUI Tool on Windows
Implenting UAVCAN in stm32 nucleoG431rb board
Cyphal/serial specification release announcement
Telega v0.6 with DroneCAN or Telega v1 with RCPWM
Announcing Telega v1.0
Cyphal/UDP specification release announcement
Babel is overheating
Zubax EPM 4 - an electro-permanent magnet for UAV applications
Using Telega v1 with ArduPilot-based flight controllers
Using Telega v1 with PX4-based flight controllers
Myxa ESC Telega Vendor Specific Status Code
List of all CAN bit rates supported by Babel

Resources

Purchase

Base technologies

Compliance

Contact Zubax Robotics for information about quality and standard compliance.

Origin

Babel is manufactured in the European Union.

Top view
Bottom view
Babel can be used with the DroneCAN GUI Tool
Installed in a standard prototyping breadboard
Babel cable kit