  New generation electrified and self-driving vehicles require much higher
performance and flexibility for onboard digital communications than Controller
Area Networks may offer. For this reason, automotive Ethernet is often regarded
as the next de facto standard technology in these contexts, and by extension
for networked embedded systems as well. However, an abrupt and drastic move
from CAN to Ethernet is likely to cause further cost increases, which can be
hardly tolerated by buyers. This paper analyzes the third generation of CAN,
termed CAN XL, and studies how interoperability can be ensured with Ethernet.
Likely, composite CAN XL-Ethernet networks are the key for getting the best of
both worlds, not only in the automotive domain but also for sensing and control
in scenarios like building automation, wired sensor networks, and low-cost
networked embedded systems with real-time constraints.
