Autonomous Vehicle Hack Protection via Random Power Sequence
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous vehicles are vulnerable to hacking threats due to the lack of authenticity verification in their system software, which can compromise user safety.
Innovation Solution
A hack protection system generates a random power ON sequence in an encrypted format during vehicle startup, detects current flow to sensors, determines the actual power ON sequence, and compares it with the random sequence to validate the authenticity of the system software, controlling the vehicle's power accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If system software is used to control operations of autonomous vehicles, then operational automation is improved, but vulnerability to hacking increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary authentication by generating and verifying a random power ON sequence before allowing the autonomous vehicle to operate. The hack protection system generates a random power ON sequence, encrypts it, and the system software must decrypt and execute it correctly during startup. This preliminary verification ensures that only authentic, unhacked software can control the vehicle, preventing hacking attempts before they can compromise operational automation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If power switching circuitry is controlled by system software, then system integration is improved, but detectability of hacking decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The hack protection system implements feedback by monitoring the actual power ON sequence execution and comparing it against the expected sequence. Current sensors detect the actual power switching behavior, and this information is fed back to the hack protection system which verifies whether the sequence matches the encrypted random sequence. This feedback mechanism makes hacking detectable while maintaining integrated software control of the power switching circuitry.
3Reliability
If random power ON sequence in encrypted format is implemented, then authentication security is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a dedicated hack protection system as an intermediary component that handles the encryption and verification of the random power ON sequence. This intermediary module sits between the power switching circuitry and the system software, managing the cryptographic operations and sequence verification. By isolating these complex security functions in a dedicated intermediary system, the overall architecture remains manageable while achieving high authentication security.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method and hack protection system for providing hack protection in an autonomous vehicle is disclosed. The method includes generating, by the hack protection system, random power ON sequence, where the random power ON sequence is in encrypted format and generated during power ON of the autonomous vehicle. The method further includes detecting current flow to sensors in the autonomous vehicle, the sensors are controlled by power switching circuitry and is responsive to power switching control signals generated by a system software module in response to the random power ON sequence, the random power ON sequence being converted from the encrypted format into decrypted format by the system software module. The method includes determining actual power ON sequence of the sensors in response to the current flow. Moreover, the method includes comparing the actual power ON sequence with the random power ON sequence to control power of the autonomous vehicle.