This master's thesis presents the replacement of the closed-source LabVIEW Shared Variables communication protocol with an open-source solution based on the ZeroMQ library for the Ion Cyclotron Heating (ICH) control system in the ITER fusion reactor. ITER requires communication solutions that ensure sustainability, vendor independence and adaptability over decades of operation.
The developed solution implements communication between the Local Control Unit (LCU) and Equipment Control Cubicle (ECC) using the ZeroMQ publish/subscribe pattern over Ethernet network. The protocol uses JSON format for structured data exchange with optional MD5 checksum for integrity verification. The implementation includes a server-side application in the LabVIEW RT environment running on the NI PXIe platform, and a client-side application consisting of Python scripts, EPICS IOC, and graphical user interface. Testing confirmed the functionality, stability, and robustness of the system. Tests included verification of the publish/subscribe mechanism, 30-minute data stream test, 24-hour long-term stability test, and protocol error handling verification. All tests were successfully completed, with the system showing consistent operation with latencies below 2.1 seconds and no data loss. The developed solution successfully replaces the closed-source protocol with an open-source alternative that provides long-term sustainability, lower maintenance costs, greater integration flexibility, and vendor independence.
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