ITER instrumentation and control—Status and plans

The ITER instrumentation and control (I&C) system is the term encompassing all hardware and software required to operate ITER. It has two levels of hierarchy: the central I&C systems and the plant systems I&C. The central I&C systems comprise CODAC (Control, Data Access and Communication), the central interlock system (CIS) and the central safety systems (CSS). The central I&C systems are “in-fund”, i.e. procured by ITER Organization (IO), while plant systems I&C are “in-kind”, i.e. procured by the seven ITER domestic agencies. This procurement model, together with the current estimate of 161 plant systems I&C, poses a major challenge for the realization and integration of the ITER I&C system. To address this challenge a main strategic focus of the CODAC group, formed in 2008, has been to establish good relations with the domestic agencies. By distributing the required R&D tasks and contracts fairly between the domestic agencies we build collaborations for the future at the same time as technical work proceed. The primary goal of ITER I&C system is to provide a fully integrated and automated control system for ITER. Standardization of plant systems I&C is of primary importance and has been the highest priority task during the last year. The target of associated R&D activities is to survey, benchmark and prototype main stream technologies, in order to choose the best and most widely used technology standards for plant systems I&C. In this paper we elaborate on our approach, both from a technical and a non-technical perspective, explain technology evaluation and decisions and finally present the way forward to ensure ITER I&C system will contribute and be instrumental in making ITER a success.