hello! Q)in the auto electrical industry,what does CAN- BUS do and what does it physically look like?

Question

working for the RAC in-car services dept and would like to know as i'm working on various new vehicles and i really should know as a new engineer!.I know it stands for Control Area Network but thats about it!

Answer 1

This a new protocol that will eventually supplant or add to the OBD II protocol. It is essence allows for multiplexing according to a particular protocol for diagnostics and communication with diagnostic equipment.
It doesn't matter how the manufacturer desires how to make their systems work with each other, but they MUST communicate at certain places and with the repair scanner of an industry standard so that the car owner is not TRAPPED to an arcane or esoteric communications standard when it comes to repair and diagnostics.
Unless you are in the repair industry, it is enough to know that it exists, and that to make use of it, special communications are required.