RFID Traffic Sign Authentication Against Autonomous Vehicle Spoofing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing autonomous vehicles are vulnerable to attacks from incorrect signage created by unauthorized entities, which can deceive the vehicle and compromise its safety and operation.
Innovation Solution
Implementing passive RFID tags on traffic signs that are cryptographically signed by a controlling authority, using a public key certificate, and verified by vehicles to authenticate the signs' authenticity and location, ensuring only authorized information controls vehicle movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing infrastructure is not modified with authentication tags, then deployment cost and complexity are reduced, but autonomous vehicles become vulnerable to spoofing attacks by unauthorized entities
Solution Approach 1:
The authentication system is segmented into two parts: existing traffic sign infrastructure and separate RFID tags. The tags are applied to signs rather than modifying the signs themselves, allowing authentication functionality to be added without redesigning the entire infrastructure. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by maintaining simple infrastructure while enabling reliability verification.
Solution Approach 2:
Passive RFID tags serve as intermediaries between autonomous vehicles and traffic signs. The tags carry cryptographic authentication data and can be read by vehicle-mounted RFID readers, enabling verification of sign authenticity without requiring modifications to the signs or complex infrastructure changes. This intermediary approach enables reliability while keeping device complexity low.
2Reliability
If passive RFID tags with cryptographic signatures are implemented on all traffic signs, then spoofing attacks are prevented, but manufacturing and deployment costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses inexpensive passive RFID tags that can be mass-produced and applied to traffic signs. These tags are relatively simple devices with embedded cryptographic credentials, making them cost-effective compared to replacing entire traffic sign infrastructure with authenticated systems. The low cost per tag enables widespread deployment while maintaining ease of manufacture.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of modifying each individual traffic sign with complex authentication hardware, the system creates cryptographic copies of authentication credentials within RFID tags. These tags contain digital representations of authority certificates and signatures, enabling verification without physical modification of the original signs. This copying approach reduces manufacturing complexity and deployment costs.
3Ease of operation
If RFID tags are made removable from signs, then installation and maintenance become easier, but authentication security is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The RFID tags are designed with tear-away or permanent attachment mechanisms that prevent removal without destruction. This preliminary design decision ensures that once a tag is attached to a traffic sign, it cannot be easily removed or tampered with. The attachment method is built into the tag structure from the beginning, resolving the contradiction by making tags secure while still allowing for controlled installation during deployment.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Prevents spoofing of traffic control signs, ensuring safe and reliable operation of autonomous vehicles by verifying the authenticity and location of signs, thereby preventing dangerous maneuvers.
Implementation Method 1
The passive RFID tags and readers may be similar to those used by existing highway toll systems. The passive RFID tags may be energized on demand by one or more nearby vehicles containing the necessary RFID reading hardware.
Data Source
AI summary
A street sign authentication arrangement for a motor vehicle includes an RFID tag reader for reading information encrypted on a street sign encountered by the motor vehicle. An electronic processor is communicatively coupled to the RFID tag reader, and verifies, based on the information read from the street sign, that the information was encrypted by an authorized entity. The processor controls movement of the motor vehicle based on the information read from the street sign if the processor is able to verify that the information was encrypted by the authorized entity. The processor refrains from controlling movement of the motor vehicle based on the information read from the street sign if the processor is not able to verify that the information was encrypted by the authorized entity.