On the Embedded of a Fast, Light and Robust Chaos-Based Cryptosystem in NEXYS4 FPGA Card for Real Time Color Image Security (CBC in N-FPGA-RTCIP)

Abstract

In this work, we put forth a rapid, lightweight, and resilient chaos-based cryptographic system (CBC-RTCIP) designed for the encryption of real-time color images, executed on a Nexys4 FPGA platform. In contrast to traditional methodologies that consider RGB channels independently, our novel approach leverages the inter-channel dependencies through the implementation of dual S-boxes, pixel-channel concatenation, and a pseudo-random number generator based on Chen chaotic oscillator. The system effectively accomplishes substantial confusion and diffusion while maintaining minimal hardware overhead. Empirical findings reveal a near-optimal global Shannon entropy of 7.99943, alongside formidable resistance to differential attacks, evidenced by NPCR and UACI metrics of 99.5978% and 33.4549%, respectively. The design attains an impressive throughput of 1021.44 Mb/s while consuming a mere 115 mW at a clock frequency of 42.56 MHz, thereby affirming its appropriateness for real-time embedded systems and Internet of Things (IoT) applications. Moreover, the system demonstrates resilience against statistical, differential, and data loss attacks, thereby substantiating its robustness and practical applicability. These outcomes position CBC-RTCIP as an efficient and secure methodology for safeguarding visual data in critical fields such as medical imaging and intelligent surveillance.