UAV Component Authentication via Pre-configured Session Keys
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Solution Overview
Problem
Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) lack authentication mechanisms during power-up or component replacement, leading to potential security risks as unauthorized components can initiate attacks.
Innovation Solution
An authentication method and system for UAVs that generates a session key, encrypts it with a device-specific key, and verifies the authenticity of components through a multi-layered key structure, ensuring secure communication and preventing unauthorized access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If authentication mechanism is added to UAV components, then security is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements authentication by performing preliminary actions - generating device keys and storing them in authentication modules before components are installed or replaced. When a component is installed, the authentication key is pre-configured and stored in the authentication module, enabling automatic authentication without adding operational complexity during actual use.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an authentication module as an intermediary component that mediates between the flight controller and replaceable components. This module contains the authentication key and performs verification, isolating the complexity of authentication logic from both the flight controller and individual components, thereby improving security while managing device complexity.
2Reliability
If authentication verification is performed for each component, then security is improved, but operation time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The authentication key is generated and stored in the authentication module before the component is installed or activated. This preliminary setup ensures that when the component is installed, authentication can proceed immediately without time-consuming verification delays during critical operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The authentication module autonomously performs verification using the pre-stored authentication key, without requiring external intervention or complex verification procedures. The component itself participates in the authentication process by providing its identifier, and the module independently completes the verification, minimizing operational time loss.
Data Source
AI summary
An authentication method includes that an authentication apparatus of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) generates a session key, the authentication apparatus receives a device identification (ID) of a device and a randomly generated random number from the device of the UAV, the authentication apparatus obtains a device key of the device according to the device ID of the device, the authentication apparatus encrypts the session key and the random number according to the device key of the device, and the authentication apparatus sends the encrypted session key and the encrypted random number to the device.