Yes, it is possible in some MCU families to load the initial bootloader through the CAN interface on a brand-new MCU, potentially eliminating the need for a JTAG connector, but this depends entirely on the MCU’s built-in features. Many modern microcontrollers ship from the factory with a ROM-resident bootloader that supports communication over interfaces such as CAN, UART, USB, or SPI. If CAN is supported in this factory bootloader, the MCU can be programmed directly via the CAN bus on first power-up, provided the correct boot mode pins or configuration are set. However, if the MCU does not include a CAN-capable ROM bootloader, JTAG or SWD is still required at least once to install an initial bootloader. Additionally, JTAG remains valuable for low-level debugging, recovery from misconfiguration, and unbricking devices, even if it is not required for normal production programming. change healthcare
