Development of intelligent control module for the J-TEXT electron cyclotron emission imaging system

•The intelligent control module for the ECEI system in J-TEXT tokamak can remote control the key parameters, such as the locations of the lenses, the radial zoom, the attenuation and the bandwidth of the electronics.•The application of low-cost Arduino microcontrollers forms an efficient and economical solution to the control issues.•The ECEI system parameter settings can be tuned between adjacent discharges without the physical presence of the technicians inside the machine hall. An Electron Cyclotron Emission Imaging (ECEI) system has been developed on the J-TEXT tokamak and employed for the multi-dimensional electron temperature fluctuation imaging measurement in 2019 campaign. The intelligent control module has been developed and been used to flexibly setup the 256-channel ECEI system configurations for different plasma scenarios. The adjustments of key parameters are merged in this module including size and position of the geometric observation window, and the dynamic range of the signal and image resolution. The user-friendly interface is also developed for the tokamak operator to set the ECEI system focusing on physics interested region. This module is installed close to the diagnostic system around the J-TEXT tokamak, which can be remotely controlled by authorized operators in the control room. It significantly improves ECEI flexibility and stability, and also keeps the operation technician away from the harsh radiation environment.