When did the development of the Controller Area Network (CAN bus) begin in earnest at Robert Bosch GmbH?
Answer
1986
The serious, focused development effort for the CAN bus protocol officially commenced in 1986 under the guidance of engineers at Robert Bosch GmbH. This period marks the initial engineering phase where the need for a standardized, reliable, cost-effective serial communication protocol to replace complex point-to-point wiring was formally addressed by the company. This timeline predates the first available chips (1987) and the public release of the specification (1991).

Related Questions
Who led the team that invented the Controller Area Network (CAN bus) at Robert Bosch GmbH?When did the development of the Controller Area Network (CAN bus) begin in earnest at Robert Bosch GmbH?What fundamental type of protocol is the CAN protocol based on, according to its technical foundation description?What specific non-destructive technique does CAN use to manage network access and prioritize time-critical information?Which vehicle marked the first commercial application of the CAN bus in 1991?What ISO standard formally recognized the Controller Area Network protocol?How does the CAN protocol physically operate regarding signal transmission over its dedicated wires?What strategic decision did Bosch make regarding the CAN specification in 1991 concerning proprietary control?In the message-based CAN protocol, what two purposes does the message identifier serve?What primary issue involving vehicle wiring harnesses necessitated the development of the CAN bus system?Which sector, besides automotive engineering, utilizes CAN networks based on its core strengths?