OCAUTO-B | Advanced Electrical Diagnostics & System Repair

This engineering-focused forensics curriculum provides a deep dive into vehicle communication networks, moving beyond basic diagnostics into the physics and logic of the Controller Area Network (CAN). You will master signal analysis, including dominant and recessive states, while learning to dissect 11-bit and 29-bit frames to reconstruct vehicle telemetry. The course covers ECU intelligence, Diagnostic Trouble Codes, and the mechanics of chip tuning to identify firmware modifications that alter vehicle behavior. A central focus is hardware interfacing, teaching you to use ESP32 or MCP2515 modules for non-invasive bus sniffing. Using industry-standard tools like Wireshark and SavvyCAN, you will analyze real-world traffic from vehicles like the 2010 Toyota Prius to decode complex protocols. This training establishes a complete forensic workflow for modern automotive incident response and digital investigation.

Operator Profile

Target Audience

  • Digital Forensics Investigators specializing in automotive incident response.
  • Automotive Engineers seeking to deepen their knowledge of vehicle network security.
  • Cybersecurity Professionals focused on hardware hacking and embedded systems.
  • Automotive Technicians interested in high-level diagnostics and ECU performance tuning.
  • Computer Science Students looking for a career in vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication.

Objectives

What I will learn?

  • Master the ISO 11898 standard for high-speed CAN Bus architecture.
  • Analyze differential signaling logic and bus arbitration mechanics.
  • Decode 11-bit and 29-bit CAN data frames with forensic precision.
  • Identify and interpret Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTC) and PCM data streams.
  • Understand ECU re-mapping and the engineering behind vehicle chip tuning.
  • Configure hardware for non-invasive CAN bus sniffing and data acquisition.
  • Perform advanced protocol analysis and traffic decoding using Wireshark and SavvyCAN.

Recommended PRE-REQUISITE

Requirements

  • Fundamental understanding of electronics and DC circuit basics.
  • A laptop running Windows or Linux with Wireshark and SavvyCAN installed.
  • (Optional but Recommended) An ESP32 or MCP2515 CAN controller for hands-on hardware labs.
  • Basic familiarity with the Python programming language for advanced data filtering.
  • An interest in reverse-engineering proprietary automotive communication protocols.

Module Skill level

All Levels

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This module is included in the OCAUTO certification bundle.

View OCAUTO program

Course Curriculum

Physical Layer & Signal Integrity
This module establishes the foundational physics and electrical logic of the Controller Area Network. Students will transition from theoretical signal theory to practical application, mastering how physical voltages translate into binary data. We focus on signal integrity, bus arbitration, and the critical "Dominant/Recessive" logic that governs vehicle communication.

  • Foundations of the CAN Ecosystem
    25:00
  • Signal State Dynamics: Dominant vs. Recessive Logic
    25:00
  • Dissecting the Data Frame: Bits, Fields, and CRC
    35:00
  • Field Telemetry: Interpreting Live Vehicle Data
    20:00

ECU Intelligence & Performance Mapping
This module shifts the focus from the "wires" to the "brains." We explore how Electronic Control Units (ECUs) process data, how they report errors via Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs), and the engineering behind chip tuning. This section is vital for understanding how a vehicle's "factory" behavior can be modified or audited.

Hardware Interfacing & Signal Acquisition
Data is useless if you cannot capture it cleanly. This module covers the hardware layer of forensics. We discuss the methodologies for "sniffing" data without disrupting the bus, focusing on the tools and hardware configurations used by professionals to intercept automotive communications.

Reverse Engineering CAN Protocol Packets with Wireshark to understand the architecture
The final module focuses on the software-side of the investigation. Once the data is captured, it must be decoded. We use industry-standard tools like Wireshark and SavvyCAN to filter through thousands of packets to find the "smoking gun" in a forensic investigation.

99,00 $

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