Course detail

Automotive Networks

FEKT-MPA-AMNAcad. year: 2025/2026

The course is organized into three blocks:

  1. Introduction to communication protocols, automotive networks.
  2. Physical layer principles with focus on low voltage differential signaling and principles used in automotive, industrial and commercial communication subsystems.
  3. Selected automotive communication technologies and solutions.
Altogether the students will be introduced to ISO/OSI layered model, media access method, physical layer properties and solutions, and selected automotive communication technologies like CAN, LIN, MOST , FlexRay, Ethernet.

Language of instruction

English

Number of ECTS credits

5

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Guarantor

doc. Ing. Petr Fiedler, Ph.D.

Department

Department of Control and Instrumentation (UAMT)

Entry knowledge

Knowledge of basic principles of analog and digital circuits.  

Rules for evaluation and completion of the course

The course ends with a credit and an examination. The examination has two parts - a written part and a follow-up oral part. In order to successfully complete the course, the student must achieve the specified minimum in both parts.
The definition of controlled teaching and the method of its implementation is specified by a regulation issued by the lecturer responsible for the course annually.

Aims

The aim of the course is to introduce students to the basic principles of network communication technologies and to provide a broad overview of communication technologies used in automotive applications.

The students will be able to explain requirements on automotive communication networks, express real-time constrains and properties describing communication in real time.  They will be able to describe difference between deterministic and non-deterministic media access method, principles of differential signaling and advantages and disadvantages of different coding methods. They will be able to describe basic properties and limitations of CAN, LIN, MOST, FlexRay and Ethernet based communication networks. Students will also be able to explain basic principles of surge protection with respect to communication interfaces. 

Study aids

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

FlexRay Protocol Specification, v 3, available from: https://dokumen.tips/documents/flexray-protocol-specification-v301.html?, 2010 (EN)
Neuhaus, R.: A Beginner’s Guide to Ethernet 802.3, Analog Devices EE-269, 2005 (EN)
Transient Suppression Devices and Principles, AN9768, Littlefuse, 1998 (EN)

Recommended reading

Kvaser: CAN Protocol Tutorial on-line course: https://www.kvaser.com/course/can-protocol-tutorial/ (EN)
Single Pair Ethernet for Industrial Applications, Wurth Application Note ANP085a, 2021 (EN)

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme MPA-AEE Master's 1 year of study, winter semester, compulsory-optional

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

52 hod., optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

doc. Ing. Petr Fiedler, Ph.D.

Syllabus

1. General introduction to communication protocols and communication buses used in automotive technology - ISO/OSI model.

2. Basic principles of physical layers with a focus on technologies using low voltage differential signalling and general principles used in automotive, industrial and commercial communication subsystems.

3. Principles of surge protection

4. CAN - physical layers and media access method

5. CAN 2.0A, 2.0B, CAN FD

6.  LIN, MOST

7. FlexRay

8. Ethernet basic principles

9. Ethernet - hardware implementation (MII, RMII, RGMII, SGMII) 

10. Automotive Ethernet - 100/1000Base-T1, 10Base-T1S MOST 

 

Laboratory exercise

2 hod., compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

doc. Ing. Petr Fiedler, Ph.D.

Field trip

1 hod., optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

doc. Ing. Petr Fiedler, Ph.D.