SADDLE: Secure Aerial Data Delivery with Lightweight Encryption

Abstract

Low-cost devices in the Internet of Things (IoT) can be integrated into Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) as a means of collecting remote data and forwarding to central collection points. However, sensitive data is subject to compromise, and should be protected using cryptography. In order to minimize threats to authenticity, data should be encrypted using session keys known only to participating nodes. In general, however, incorporation of capabilities required to both generate secure session keys and encrypt or decrypt sensitive data is difficult in low-cost IoT installations, due to resource and performance constraints. In this research, we implement a combined public and secret key secure data delivery system in a low-cost aerial platform, which incorporates cryptographic accelerators and required peripherals, in the Zybo Z7-10 System-on-Chip. Components are integrated using a flexible and extensible Applications Programming Interface (API) in a hardware-software design approach, and flown on a low-cost F450 ARF quad-copter drone. Resulting components consume 60% of the slice resources of the Zybo FPGA, and achieve a takeoff weight of 1.2 kg. A flight demonstration is performed, where sensitive data, collected at a remote sensor, is securely delivered to a host.