HydraLink is a compact, cost-effective, and high-performance USB-to-automotive Ethernet interface designed to make accessing automotive networks simple and accessible to everyone. As the automotive sector transitions from traditional CAN-based systems to advanced Automotive Ethernet networks like BroadR-Reach, HydraLink seamlessly facilitates this shift. It supports both 100BASE-T1 and 1000BASE-T1 standards over a single twisted pair, providing a reliable solution for diagnostics, testing, and efficient prototyping without the need for bulky media converters or external power supplies.

Built with open systems in mind, HydraLink is fully compatible with macOS, Linux, and Windows. All its drivers are open source, promoting transparency and encouraging community collaboration. By eliminating the complexities of interfacing with modern automotive Ethernet networks, HydraLink becomes an ideal tool for automotive engineers, security researchers, car hackers, tuners, and makers in the automotive field.

Diagnose, Simulate, and Test

HydraLink serves multiple needs in the automotive and embedded systems sectors. It enables real-time diagnostics, simulation applications, and fast data exchanges with minimal latency. Ideal for professionals and enthusiasts alike, HydraLink simplifies the complexities of interfacing with modern automotive Ethernet networks. Its plug-and-play design and cross-platform compatibility allow users to focus on innovation without the hassle of cumbersome hardware setups. It excels in the following use cases:

Work with ECUs in Bench Environments

In controlled laboratory or development bench setups, HydraLink allows engineers to directly link their host computers, diagnostic equipment, or test systems to electronic control units (ECUs) that communicate via Automotive Ethernet. HydraLink works hand-in-hand with external diagnostic or data-logging software by providing a stable, standards-based Ethernet interface. This setup enables developers to perform parameter tuning, firmware flashing, and network behavior monitoring under reproducible conditions, accelerating early-stage integration and validation processes.

Connect to ECUs Inside Vehicles

Beyond laboratory environments, HydraLink can be deployed directly inside a vehicle’s network to facilitate real-world analysis. When connected to a laptop or test computer running the appropriate software utilities, HydraLink enables in-situ monitoring of live data exchange, provides a channel for on-the-fly diagnostics, and supports direct inspection of how ECUs behave under dynamic operating conditions. This is especially valuable for verifying that newly integrated systems maintain correct and reliable communication when subjected to actual road scenarios.

Pentesting and Evaluation of Automotive Ethernet Interfaces

Modern vehicles face evolving cybersecurity challenges, and testing their resilience requires precise hardware access to the Ethernet domain. By interfacing with specialized security testing software, HydraLink allows penetration testers to capture and analyze traffic, inject crafted frames, and perform replay attacks—always under the control of the external software stack. This hardware-level bridge to the network helps testers identify vulnerabilities and validate the effectiveness of intrusion detection systems, ensuring faults are never released to production.

Intercept and Inspect Traffic

Developers often need to inspect traffic between ECUs for advanced diagnostic procedures without interrupting their communication. Using two HydraLink devices with external man-in-the-middle or packet manipulation software, engineers can transparently intercept data frames, log the traffic for detailed analysis, and implement controlled message modifications. Whether tracking down frustrating intermittent faults or verifying protocol conformance, HydraLink can do it all.

Features & Specifications

• Automotive Ethernet speed: 100 / 1000 Mbit/s, full duplex
• USB interface: USB 3.0 Gen 1 Type-C
• Supply voltage: 5 V via USB interface (no external power needed)
• Operating temperature range: 0° C to +70° C
• LED indicators: Link activity and link speed
• Dimensions (L × W × H): 74 × 41 × 16 mm (2.91 x 1.61 x 0.63 in)
• Weight: 55 g (1.94 oz)

Open Source

Hydralink is as open as we can make it due to some proprietary information from a chip manufacturer. We will create a redacted schematic and a bill of materials available after the campaign ends. Our software and kernel module are already available on our GitHub Page.

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