External Security Key for UAV Media Decryption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) face risks of data loss and potential tampering due to the storage of sensitive media data, which is not adequately protected by existing encryption methods.
Innovation Solution
A security key device with a private key stored in a secure element is used to encrypt and decrypt media data on the UAV, ensuring the private key is not stored on the UAV during flight, and a symmetric key is used for encryption, which is decrypted using the connected security key device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the private key is stored on the UAV, then decryption of media data can be performed on-board, but the private key may be compromised if the UAV is lost or compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The private key is extracted from the UAV system and stored in an external secure key device. This separation ensures that even if the UAV is compromised, the private key remains secure in the external device. The UAV only stores the public key and encrypted media data, while decryption operations require connection to the external key device.
Solution Approach 2:
An external secure key device acts as an intermediary between the UAV and the private key. This mediator holds the private key in a secure element and provides decryption services without the private key ever being present on the UAV, thus maintaining security while enabling decryption functionality.
2Device complexity
If the same symmetric key is used across multiple flights, then decryption is simpler, but security is reduced if the key is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The symmetric key is made dynamic by regenerating it for each flight session. This dynamic key management ensures that even if one flight's encrypted data is compromised, other flights remain secure with their unique keys. The system adapts the key lifecycle to match the operational lifecycle of each flight.
Solution Approach 2:
The symmetric key is periodically regenerated at the start of each flight session. This periodic key rotation follows a regular pattern tied to flight operations, providing fresh encryption for each mission while maintaining systematic key management through the external secure key device.
3Reliability
If encryption is implemented on the UAV, then media data security is improved, but the risk of key compromise during flight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The private key is extracted from the UAV and stored in an external secure key device, eliminating the security vulnerability of storing sensitive cryptographic material on the flight vehicle. The UAV only contains non-sensitive public keys and encrypted data.
Solution Approach 2:
The system prepares for potential UAV compromise by pre-arranging that the private key resides externally in a secure element. This beforehand protection ensures that even if the UAV is lost or compromised during flight, the private key remains secure and can still decrypt data when needed.
4Reliability
If the private key is stored in a secure element on the UAV, then key security is improved, but the device complexity and vulnerability to physical compromise increase
Solution Approach 1:
The secure element containing the private key is extracted from the UAV and placed in a separate, dedicated key device. This extraction reduces UAV system complexity while maintaining strong security, as the key management burden is transferred to the specialized external device.
Solution Approach 2:
The cryptographic key management system is segmented into separate components: the public key and encrypted data on the UAV, and the private key in an external secure key device. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently for its specific function.
Data Source
AI summary
Described herein are systems and methods using a security key for an unmanned aerial vehicle. For example, some methods include during flight of an unmanned aerial vehicle, encrypting, using a public key stored by the unmanned aerial vehicle, a symmetric key that is used to encrypt media data captured using one or more sensors of the unmanned aerial vehicle to obtain encrypted media data; landing the unmanned aerial vehicle; connecting a key device to the unmanned aerial vehicle via a serial port connector of the key device and a serial port connector of the unmanned aerial vehicle; while the key device is connected to the unmanned aerial vehicle, decrypting, using a private key stored on the key device, the encrypted symmetric key, which in turn is used to decrypt a portion of the encrypted media data to obtain decrypted media data; and transmitting a portion of the decrypted media data.