What’s under the hood of your car? Hint: It’s not just an engine anymore! Modern vehicles have tiny computers, sensors, and smart systems that make driving safer, smoother, and cooler. To decode this tech magic, the Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering at Sri Aurobindo Institute of Technology (SAIT), Indore, organized a 2-day workshop on Embedded Automotive Systems and CAN Protocol on March 7-8, 2025. For B.Tech students from EC, EX, and ME branches, this was a backstage pass to the world of smart cars. From building mini parking sensors to mastering car communication networks, here’s how SAIT turned classrooms into innovation labs!

Why Embedded Automotive Systems Matter

The Brains Behind Your Car

Cars today are like smartphones on wheels. They park themselves, alert drivers to obstacles, and even chat with other cars to avoid accidents. But how? The answer lies in embedded systems – tiny computers hidden inside vehicles.

The workshop kicked off with a simple truth

If you want to build the cars of tomorrow, you need to speak the language of embedded tech today. Students learned how these systems control everything from fuel efficiency to infotainment screens.

Hands-On Learning

From Sensors to CAN Bus – Students Built a Mini Smart Car! Forget textbooks, this workshop was all about “learning by soldering”! Students rolled up their sleeves for hands-on sessions that mixed engineering with creativity. Here’s what went down:

Sensor Lab: Ultrasonic Sensors + Servo Motors = Parking Assist Prototype
Teams got their hands dirty with:

• Ultrasonic sensors (the same tech that helps cars detect obstacles).
• Servo motors (used in automatic braking systems).
• LCD modules (like your car’s dashboard display).

Task was to build a mini parking assist system! Students programmed sensors to measure distances and display real-time data on LCDs. One team even added a servo motor to mimic a self-parking steering wheel.

Using CAN controllers, students:

• Transmitted data (like speed or engine temperature) between multiple nodes.
• Simulated real-world scenarios (e.g., airbag deployment signals).

Deep Dive into CAN Protocol: Why It’s a Game-Changer

A highlight of the workshop was unraveling the CAN protocol – the unsung hero of automotive tech. Faculty experts broke it down with fun analogies:

• CAN Bus = A Team Huddle: Imagine ECUs (car computers) passing notes in a classroom. CAN bus ensures no two nodes “talk” at once, avoiding chaos.
• Error Detection = Car’s Safety Net: The protocol automatically detects faults (like a rogue sensor) and fixes errors in real time.

Students even coded basic CAN frames to see how data like RPM or fuel levels travel across a network.

Faculty Insights

Industry Needs Engineers Who Can Think Like Problem-Solvers. SAIT’s ECE department head, Prof. Manoj Verma, explained the workshop’s goal as companies want graduates who can bridge hardware and software. With EVs and driverless cars booming, mastering embedded systems isn’t optional but essential.

By the way, plans are already brewing at SAIT for advanced workshops on AI in automotive tech and IoT integration.

Final Thoughts

Why Workshops Like This Are Career Rocket Fuel. SAIT’s Embedded Systems workshop did more than teach circuits, it opened doors to future-ready skills:

• Industry Relevance: CAN protocol is used by Tata, Mahindra, Tesla – students added a golden skill to their resumes.
• Problem-Solving Muscle: Debugging hardware-software glitches taught patience and creativity.
• Cross-Branch Bonding: ME, EC, and EX students collaborated like real engineering teams.

In a world where cars are becoming gadgets, SAIT ensured its students aren’t just riders – they’re the builders.