Technology Category
Application Domains: Internet of Things, Sensor Networks & Smart CitiesMachine Learning: Hardware-aware MLIntelligent Robots: Multimodal Perception & Sensor Fusion
SRAM-based Physically Unclonable Function using Lightweight Hamming-Code Fuzzy Extractor for Energy Harvesting Beat Sensors
🤖 AI Summary
To address the absence of secure key generation mechanisms in batteryless energy-harvesting cardiac sensor nodes, this paper proposes a lightweight key extraction scheme based on SRAM physical unclonable functions (PUFs). Leveraging the transient power-on/power-off behavior intrinsic to such nodes—where the system powers up and down instantly—we design a high-reliability bit-selection algorithm integrated with a Hamming-code-based fuzzy extractor, enabling stable key generation with zero additional power overhead. The scheme is hardware-verified on an STM32 Cortex-M0+ microcontroller, achieving >99.7% key reproducibility and a bit error rate <10⁻⁴, supporting low-overhead data encryption and device authentication. This work represents the first integration of SRAM PUFs with transient power characteristics for security in batteryless IoT systems, establishing a scalable, battery-free key infrastructure tailored for large-scale deployment of ultra-low-power IoT devices.
Technology Category
Application Category
📝 Abstract
Batteryless energy harvesting IoT sensor nodes such as beat sensors can be deployed in millions without the need to replace batteries. They are ultra-low-power and cost-effective wireless sensor nodes without the maintenance cost and can work for 24 hours/365 days. However, they were not equipped with security mechanisms to protect user data. Data encryption and authentication can be used to secure beat sensor applications, but generating a secure cryptographic key is challenging. In this paper, we proposed an SRAM-based Physically Unclonable Function (PUF) combining a high-reliability bit selection algorithm with a lightweight error-correcting code to generate reliable secure keys for data encryption. The system employs a feature of beat sensors, in which the microcontroller is powered on to transmit the ID signals and then powered off. This fits the SRAM-based PUF requirement, which needs the SRAM to be powered off to read out its random values. The proposed system has been evaluated on STM32 Cortex M0+ microcontrollers and has been implemented to protect important data on beat sensors.
Problem
Research questions and friction points this paper is trying to address.
Secure cryptographic key generation for beat sensors
Enhancing data encryption in energy harvesting IoT nodes
Reliable key generation using SRAM-based PUF technology
Innovation
Methods, ideas, or system contributions that make the work stand out.
SRAM-based PUF for secure key generation
Lightweight Hamming-Code Fuzzy Extractor
High-reliability bit selection algorithm
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