UAV Secure Communication via Pre-computed Hash Authentication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ensuring secure and authenticated communication between remote computing systems and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) is challenging due to the risk of unauthorized access and attacks, particularly in the transmission of commands and information during UAV operations.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for secure communication involving a controller on the UAV with a processor and communication module, utilizing hashing and encryption techniques, such as SHA256 and AES-256, to authenticate messages and encrypt data, ensuring only solicited communication is accepted and preventing unauthorized access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If hashing and encryption techniques are implemented for secure communication, then security and authentication are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-computing and storing hashed secret keys in an internal database before communication occurs. The flight management system stores hashed versions of secret keys associated with UAV serial numbers, and the controller stores its own secret key in read-only memory. This pre-preparation eliminates the need for complex real-time key generation and exchange protocols during communication, reducing operational complexity while maintaining security.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical or procedural authentication systems with cryptographic hashing and encryption. Instead of using elaborate physical security mechanisms or multi-step verification protocols, the system uses SHA256 hashing and AES-256 encryption to achieve secure communication. This substitution simplifies the overall system architecture while providing robust security.
2Reliability
If message authentication through hashing is performed, then communication integrity is improved, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-computing the hash of the secret key and storing it in the internal database before communication occurs. When a message is received, the system only needs to compute a hash comparison against the pre-stored value, rather than performing complex authentication calculations in real-time. This significantly reduces processing time during actual communication while maintaining message integrity verification.
3Reliability
If encryption is used to protect data transmission, then security is improved, but computational energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-generating and storing encryption keys and their hashed versions before communication occurs. The secret key is stored in read-only memory on the controller, and its hash is stored in the flight management system's database. This eliminates the need for energy-intensive key generation and exchange operations during flight or communication, reducing computational energy consumption while maintaining strong encryption security.
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments of a system and method for secure, authenticated communication with one or more unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are described herein. The system includes at least one computing system which is operable with instructions to: receive, from an unmanned aerial vehicle of one or more unmanned vehicles, a message; extract, from the message, an unmanned aerial vehicle serial number and a secret key; compute a hash of the secret key to generate a first hashed secret key; retrieve, from an internal database located on a non-transient memory of the at least one computing system, a second hashed secret key associated with the unmanned aerial vehicle serial number; and compare the first hashed secret key with the second hashed secret key to determine whether the message is valid.