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

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 MicroBlaze^TM 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.