FPGA implementation of a fastflex supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) remote telemetry unit

Abstract

This paper presents the field programmable gate array (FPGA) implementation aspects of a novel supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) remote telemetry unit (RTU), developed as a system on a programmable chip (SoPC). Transmitton Ltd. is an electronic control equipment manufacturer for the railway and process control industries. The company has embarked on a process of modernising its products by developing a new range of their fastflex control system, in collaboration with Anglia Polytechnic University. Modern electronic design automation (EDA) methodologies are being employed, based on hardware description languages (HDL) and targeting FPGAs for implementation. Advantages such as in-house design capability, company's IP rights, cost savings, compact implementation and high speed of the circuit are obtained.