System design of the newest generation detector controller for extremely large telescope and new very large telescope instruments

The new general detector controller, 2nd generation (NGCII) is in development for the first-generation instruments of the extremely large telescope (ELT) as well as new instruments for the very large telescope (VLT). Building on experience with previous European Southern Observatory (ESO) detector controllers, a modular system based on the MicroTCA.4 industrial standard, is designed to control a variety of infrared and visible light scientific and wavefront sensor detectors. This article presents the early development stages of NGCII hardware and firmware from the decision to start an all-new design to first tests with detectors and readout integrated circuits.