Zero latency encryption with FPGAs for secure time-triggered automotive networks

Abstract

Security has emerged as a key concern in increasingly complex embedded automotive networks. The distributed architecture and broadcast transmission characteristics mean they are vulnerable and provide little resistance to intrusive and non-intrusive attack mechanisms. Incorporating data security using traditional approaches introduces significant latency which can be problematic in the presence of real-time deadlines. We demonstrate how a security layer can be added within the network communication controller in modern time-triggered systems, without introducing additional latency or processing overheads. This allows critical communications to be secured in a manner that is transparent to the processors in the electronic control units (ECUs), while also safeguarding network communication properties.