https://github.com/shnewto/can-we-talk
Talking to your vehicle over the CAN bus with Python
https://github.com/shnewto/can-we-talk
automotive can hardware obd obd-ii vehicle
Last synced: 4 months ago
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Talking to your vehicle over the CAN bus with Python
- Host: GitHub
- URL: https://github.com/shnewto/can-we-talk
- Owner: shnewto
- License: mit
- Created: 2018-07-13T19:32:15.000Z (about 7 years ago)
- Default Branch: master
- Last Pushed: 2022-03-10T15:34:57.000Z (over 3 years ago)
- Last Synced: 2025-06-10T00:41:04.628Z (4 months ago)
- Topics: automotive, can, hardware, obd, obd-ii, vehicle
- Language: Python
- Homepage:
- Size: 237 KB
- Stars: 19
- Watchers: 5
- Forks: 10
- Open Issues: 0
-
Metadata Files:
- Readme: README.md
- License: LICENSE
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README
# CAN we talk Python?
[](https://travis-ci.org/shnewto/can-we-talk)
[](LICENSE)
_Talking to your vehicle over the CAN bus with Python_
## Overview
When properly configured and connected to your vehicle's OBD-II port, this Python3 program retrieves the following information from the vehicle:
* The specific OBD standard this vehicle conforms to
* The vehicle's current fuel tank level
* The time, in seconds, since the engine was powered on
Prerequisites for success:
* A vehicle powered on (motor on)
* A CAN connection to the OBD-II CAN bus from your computer
## Getting Started
### Linux Dependencies
* `python3` (`sudo apt install python3`)
### Windows Dependencies
* `python3` ([https://www.python.org/downloads/windows/](https://www.python.org/downloads/windows/))
* CAN driver ([Kvaser](https://www.kvaser.com/developer/canlib-sdk/), [PCAN](https://www.peak-system.com/PCAN-USB.199.0.html?&L=1), etc.)
### Python 3 Dependencies
* `pip3 install -r requirements.txt --user`
### CAN Hardware requirements
| OBD-II to DB9 Cable | CAN USB Adapter |
|---|---|
| [
](https://gridconnect.com/obd2-cable.html) | [
](https://gridconnect.com/can-usb.html) |
## Usage
See the doc string in [can_we_talk.py](can_we_talk.py) or run `./can_we_talk.py -h` for usage
specifics.
### Usage Notes
#### Linux
On a Linux system `socketcan` is a default so `can_we_talk.py` can rely on the default settings
for `bustype` and `channel`. After initializing the socketcan interface with:
```bash
sudo ip link set can0 type can bitrate 500000
sudo ip link set up can0
```
you can run:
```bash
# Default Linux usage
./can_we_talk.py
```
#### Windows
On a Windows system `socketcan` is not available so the `bustype` and `channel` must be specified.
If you've installed the Kvaser SDK you need to run:
```bash
# Default Kvaser CANlib usage
./can_we_talk.py -c 0 -b kvaser
```
Using PCAN drivers you can run:
```bash
# Default PEAK PCAN-USB usage
./can_we_talk.py -c PCAN_USBBUS1 -b pcan
```
## Running the tests
You can run the tests with `pytest`, i.e. `python3 -m pytest --verbose`
## Further Reading
[OBD-II PIDs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OBD-II_PIDs)
## Further Watching
This project supplemented a talk titled _CAN we talk Python? Talking to your vehicle over the CAN bus with Python_, first
given at the PDX Python User Group in July of 2018. You can watch the video [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1QgGO23ob4).