panda/README.md

Welcome to panda
======

[panda](http://github.com/commaai/panda) is the nicest universal car interface ever.

<a href="https://panda.comma.ai"><img src="https://github.com/commaai/panda/blob/master/panda.png">

<img src="https://github.com/commaai/panda/blob/master/buy.png"></a>

It supports 3x CAN, 2x LIN, and 1x GMLAN. It also charges a phone. On the computer side, it has both USB and Wi-Fi.

It uses an [STM32F413](http://www.st.com/en/microcontrollers/stm32f413-423.html?querycriteria=productId=LN2004) for low level stuff and an [ESP8266](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ESP8266) for Wi-Fi. They are connected over high speed SPI, so the panda is actually capable of dumping the full contents of the busses over Wi-Fi, unlike every other dongle on amazon. ELM327 is weak, panda is strong.

It is 2nd gen hardware, reusing code and parts from the [NEO](https://github.com/commaai/neo) interface board.

Usage
------

To install the library:
```
# pip install pandacan
```

See [this class](https://github.com/commaai/panda/blob/master/panda/__init__.py#L80) for how to interact with the panda.

For example, to receive CAN messages:
```
>>> from panda import Panda
>>> panda = Panda()
>>> panda.can_recv()
```
And to send one on bus 0:
```
>>> panda.can_send(0x1aa, "message", 0)
```
More examples coming soon

Software interface support
------

As a universal car interface, it should support every reasonable software interface.

- User space (done)
- socketcan in kernel (alpha)
- ELM327 (planned)
- Windows J2534 (planned)

Directory structure
------

- board      -- Code that runs on the STM32
- boardesp   -- Code that runs on the ESP8266
- drivers    -- Drivers (not needed for use with python)
- lib        -- Python userspace library for interfacing with the panda
- tests      -- Tests and helper programs for panda

Programming (over USB)
------

Programming the STM32
```
cd board
./get_sdk.sh
make recover   # initially
make           # future
```

Programming the ESP
```
cd boardesp
./get_sdk.sh
make
```

Debugging
------

To print out the serial console from the STM32, run tests/debug_console.py

To print out the serial console from the ESP8266, run PORT=1 tests/debug_console.py

Safety Model
------

When a panda powers up, by default it's in "SAFETY_NOOUTPUT" mode. While in no output mode, the buses are also forced to be silent. In order to send messages, you have to select a safety mode. Currently, setting safety modes is only supported over USB.

Safety modes can also optionally support "controls_allowed", which allows or blocks a subset of messages based on a piece of state in the board.

Hardware
------

Check out the hardware [guide](https://github.com/commaai/panda/blob/master/docs/guide.pdf)

Licensing
------

panda software is released under the MIT license unless otherwise specified.