In this work we present the technical implementation of a digital VERSA Module Eurocard (VMEbus) system used to detect and track, in real-time, magneto-hydrodynamic instabilities on the JET tokamak. This VMEbus system runs on a 1ms clock cycle and performs the unsupervised detection and real-time tracking of the individual components in a multi-harmonic spectrum of coherent electro-magnetic instabilities, actively driven by a set of in-vessel antennas. Its main real-time output signals are the frequency, amplitude, toroidal mode number and damping rate of such modes. Moreover, this controller also provides some of the protection and control tools for the antenna system, such as the reference for the voltage and current control waveforms, and a trip signal related to the shorted-turn protection of the antennas. Current applications of this novel controller focus on the measurement of the damping rate of Alfvén Eigenmodes with different toroidal mode numbers. The successful technical implementation and scientific exploitation of this innovative VMEbus system opens possibilities for the real-time detection and the ensuing control of electro-magnetic instabilities in other present and future fusion devices.