PQ/ESO/21/107456/MGUN for the Main FPGA AMC 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 a central processing and communication module is required. The module shall be implemented in the AMC (Advanced Mezzanine Card) form factor and feature a Xilinx Ultrascale+ SoC as central processing unit as well as high- speed communication interfaces. The module shall also provide a digital Zone 3 interface to host a rear-transition module (RTM) implementing custom detector functions. It is anticipated that fully compliant modules are available as off-the-shelf products for the required baseline configuration and that some minor modifications of the off-the-shelf product may be required to deliver a fully compliant product. Some additional challenges may lie in the exceptional operating environment of the ELT.