What is Cyphal?

Cyphal is an open technology for real-time intravehicular distributed computing and communication based on modern networking standards (Ethernet, CAN FD, etc.). It was created to address the challenge of on-board deterministic computing and data distribution in next-generation intelligent vehicles: manned and unmanned aircraft, spacecraft, robots, and cars.

The underlying Cyphal Specification is open to everyone, and it will always remain this way. No licensing or approval of any kind is necessary for its implementation, distribution, or use.

Cyphal was known as UAVCAN before 2022.

If you want to learn more about Cyphal, you can watch a recording of my presentation called 'Introduction to Cyphal - A modern protocol for intravehicular distributed computing and communication', given at the Embedded Systems Engineering Kongress in Sindelfingen, 2024 (Slides, Video).

Features

• Designed for complex, high-integrity, real-time vehicular computing systems.
• Publish/subscribe and request/response (RPC) exchange semantics.
• Specialized interface description language provides rich zero-cost interface abstractions and facilitates service-oriented design.
• Lightweight — implementable from scratch in ca. 1000 logical lines of code; cheap to verify and validate.
• Peer-to-peer network — no bus master, no single point of failure.
• Modular redundancy for fault-tolerant systems with automatic fail-over.
• Different transport-layer protocols (Ethernet, CAN, etc.), including heterogeneous transport redundancy.
• High-quality open source reference implementations are freely available under the MIT license.

Who's this for?

You are developing or intend to develop an embedded system that will use Cyphal for distributed communication and computing. You require assistance in selecting appropriate hardware, implementing device drivers for the Cyphal transport layer, or receiving training on how to use the various Cyphal-related tooling. I'm happy to help you with your specific problem to accomplish your desired business results, whether you need high-level advice or hands-on development.

Why me?

I'm the creator and maintainer of 107-Arduino-Cyphal and 107-Arduino-Cyphal-Support, which together provide a batteries-included full implementation of Cyphal that can be easily run on Arduino target platforms to evaluate and experiment with Cyphal. Because the library is free of microcontroller or Arduino specific idioms, it can be compiled for and used on any target architecture (including your PC) using CMake.

In addition, I created L3X-Z, a six-legged mixed electrical/hydraulic robot that heavily relies on Cyphal to exchange data between the various Cyphal enabled devices (leg controller, auxiliary controller, radiation sensor, valve controller, and so on).

Finally, I'm an active member of the Cyphal development team, assisting with the protocol's continuous development, testing, and integration.

Testimonials

Don’t worry, there’s no risk or obligation and it’s free to apply.

Still have questions?

What happens after I apply?

I will review your application and reply by email, typically within one business day, with any immediate follow-up questions, and to schedule a preliminary conversation to uncover your specific needs.

I still have more questions that I’d like to ask before applying.

Don't worry. Please go ahead and complete the form below and let me know about what further questions you have.

To book a Cyphal consulting engagement or to learn more about how it could help you, fill out the form I’ll get back to you ASAP with details on how to proceed. If you rather prefer to send me an email, feel free to use the button/address below the form.

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Don’t worry, there’s no risk or obligation and it’s free to apply.