General overview of MORFEO (formerly known as MAORY) instrument control hardware design

This paper provides a description of the Instrument Control Hardware design for MORFEO (Multiconjugate adaptive Optics Relay For ELT Observations), an adaptive optics module for ESO ELT. The MORFEO Instrument Control Hardware is in charge of the control electronics of the entire system. The architecture of the control system is thus based on the paradigm of decentralized functions, connected via EtherCAT fieldbus, allowing for easy communication between components that are not physically near each other. The use of industrial standards and COTS elements also leads to rapid development, easier update of the components, lower cost for spare parts and a widespread understanding of architecture among specialized firms. The Instrument Control Hardware design described in this paper is an updated version of the configuration presented for the Preliminary Design Review in the first half of 2021.