PQ/ESO/21/107453/MGUN for the Small FPGA MTCA Module

NGCII (New Generic Controller – Generation 2) is the working title of the ESO-developed detector controller for all future ELT instruments and VLT instrument upgrades. The controller hardware is implemented in an industry-standard modular rack form factor, MicroTCA.4 (Micro Telecommunications Computing Architecture Version 4). Within each detector controller system one or more AMC (Advanced Mezzanine Card) form factor FPGA modules interface the PCI-Express based backplane of the system with FPGA mezzanine cards (FMC) and the rear transition modules (RTM) that implement custom detector functions. The module shall feature a low-cost Xilinx 7-Series user- programmable FPGA. It is anticipated that fully compliant modules are available as off-the-shelf products by several Member-State companies. Some challenges may lie in the exceptional operating environment of the ELT.