What Is Local Interconnect Network (LIN)?

Do you know how people say that cars are like computers? Well, they're not wrong. In fact, cars are computers with wheels and if you think about it, that means that every single car out there is as secure as your phone—which means that if you want to hack a car, all you need is a laptop and an internet connection. But if you've ever been in a car before, you know that cars have an "infotainment system," which is a bunch of buttons and touch screens that don't really do anything except make the driver look cool they're driving. But what if we could use these infotainment systems to hack our cars? That's where a Local Interconnect Network (LIN) comes in. This is an inexpensive serial network method for connecting automobile devices—like what you'd find in any factory-installed vehicle. The LIN bus handles the connection of low-end multiplexed communication. In contrast, the Controller Area Network (CAN) bus is used for high-end operations that require quick and efficient connections—like error handling. The LIN Consortium was founded in the 1990s by five leading automobile companies and Motorola. If you're looking for a network that's easy to set up and maintain, look no further than the Local Interconnect Network (LIN) System. LIN is perfect for applications where you need to have a single master node initiate messages, with all other nodes replying. The LIN system also works well in systems with expensive sensors that need to be paired up with low-cost microcontroller systems. The best part about the LIN system is that it comprises only 16 nodes—the master node and 15 slave nodes. This means there will never be any collisions when two or more demands are given at once, making it super easy to manage!