Autonomous Vehicle Secure Start with Backend Key Unlocking
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Solution Overview
Problem
As vehicle manufacturers integrate network and computing resources into automobiles, the risk of malicious third-party access to autonomous vehicle systems increases, posing concerns for unauthorized control and data security.
Innovation Solution
A secure start system for autonomous vehicles is implemented, which includes a switching module connecting to a compute stack with encrypted drives, a communications router with network interface and input interface, and a backend system authentication process to ensure only authorized access, using decryption keys to unlock autonomous functions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If network and computing resources are integrated into autonomous vehicle systems, then system functionality and automation capability are improved, but vulnerability to malicious third-party access and unauthorized control increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the computing resources into separate encrypted drives (e.g., first encrypted drive, second encrypted drive) within the compute stack, each potentially containing different autonomous drive functions or data. This segmentation allows selective decryption and activation of specific functions while maintaining security isolation, preventing a single point of failure or unauthorized access from compromising the entire system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a secure start system as an intermediary layer between external networks and the autonomous vehicle's compute stack. This secure start system manages encrypted drives and decryption keys, acting as a gatekeeper that controls access to autonomous drive functions. The intermediary validates authentication credentials and selectively activates functions, preventing direct unauthorized access while enabling legitimate automation operations.
2Reliability
If encrypted drives are used to secure autonomous drive functions, then security against unauthorized access is improved, but system initialization complexity and decryption key management burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The secure start system is designed to autonomously manage the decryption key storage and activation process without requiring external intervention for each function activation. The system self-manages the encrypted drives, automatically decrypting and activating autonomous drive functions based on pre-configured authentication credentials, thereby reducing the operational burden of key management while maintaining high security standards.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary encryption of autonomous drive functions during system manufacturing or setup, with decryption keys and authentication credentials pre-configured in the secure start system. This preliminary action ensures that security measures are already in place before deployment, and the system can be rapidly activated by simply presenting valid credentials, reducing the complexity of real-time key management while maintaining strong security.
Data Source
AI summary
A secure start system for an autonomous vehicle can include a communications router comprising an input interface to receive a boot-loader to enable network communications with a backend system. The secure start system utilizes a tunnel key from the backend system to establish a private communications session with a backend data vault. The secure start system then retrieves a set of decryption keys from the backend data vault, via the private communications session, to decrypt a plurality of encrypted drives of the autonomous vehicle, which enables one or more functions of the autonomous vehicle.