Analyzing Bus Load Data Using an FPGA and a Microcontroller

In this paper we present the design, implementation, and testing of an evaluation tool for the ongoing development of the Prosthetic Device Communication Protocol (PDCP) which is an open protocol and is featured in the University of New Brunswick´s most recent prosthetic limb research project, the UNB Hand System. This prosthetic device utilizes the CAN bus hardware with the PDCP for passing command and data messages between modules within the prosthetic limb system. The PDCP allows abstraction of the underlying bus system and allows different network topologies depending on particular needs. To be able to analyze communication in the CAN layers as well as in the PDCP layer we present our own solutions utilizing an FPGA for CAN bus bandwidth load monitoring and a microcontroller for PDCP monitoring and analysis.