FPGA-based embedded Linux technology in fusion: the MAST microwave imaging system

Billy K. Huang, Roddy Vann, Simon James Freethy, Richard Myers, Graham Naylor, Ray Sharples, V. F. Shevchenko

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

A cutting-edge standalone data acquisition system has been developed using Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs). It has 16 ADC channels operating at 250 MSPS, at 14-bit resolution acquiring continuously at 8 GB/s for 0.5 s. The system uses the Virtex 6 FPGA running embedded Linux on the MicroBlazeTM soft processor. We propose the development of a standard FPGA architecture, based on a methodology which has enabled us to develop this system using commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) components. This architecture can easily be modified for a variety of applications, both high and low performance at a competitive cost in terms of hardware, engineering and development.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2106-2111
Number of pages6
JournalFusion engineering and design
Volume87
Issue number12
Early online date11 Jul 2012
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2012

Bibliographical note

accepted for publication

Keywords

  • FPGA
  • MAST
  • Fusion
  • Nuclear fusion
  • DSP
  • Digital signal processing
  • Real-time acquisition
  • Real-time control
  • Embedded Linux
  • MicroBlaze
  • Soft processor

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