Cryptographically secure hardware random number generator dedicated for distributed measurement control systems

The term distributed, wireless measurement and control systems with asymmetric resources refers to networks created on an ad hoc basis by small autonomous devices, which perform communication and measurement functions, signal processing, also often executive functionality. Communication in this networks is realize via radio waves. Providing cryptographic security in such networks is extremely important, because they perform very important tasks in key industries such as nuclear power plants and public safety systems. There are many different constraints in the analyzed measurement systems, it is clear that providing the sufficient cryptographic security in such networks is particularly difficult challenge. Limitations of the nodes are the consequence of the requirements for their size, production costs, location, and that they should be constitute autonomous terminals.
Chaotic signals have characteristics significantly different from the signals commonly used in wireless communication dedicated for measurement and control systems. The most important feature of the chaotic signal is exponential sensitivity to initial conditions. With the finite accuracy is very difficult to predict the signal value at the distant time (both in the future, as in the past) from the moment of measurement. Properties of chaotic signals resemble it to a random noise. The use of chaos is a solution different and innovative, both in signal processing theory and cryptography. This issue requires the development of new, specialized analytical research methodology and measurement, based on the theory of chaos in dynamic systems. For the manufacture of electrical chaotic waveform are constructed generators, using natural sources of noise (resistors, diodes), shift registers or nonlinear dynamic systems which chaotic behavior manifested. As this type of signal generators are used, among others: RLC circuit with nonlinear resistance and chaotic LC oscillators.
In this paper I present the chaotic signal generator based on the theory of nonlinear dynamical systems for applications in cryptographically secure distributed measurement and control systems with asymmetric resources. This system was implemented on the basis of the physical chaotic electronic vibration generator in which the resonant circuit is composed of two capacitors, two resistors, coil and transistor, called the Colpitts oscillator. The presented system was designed, programmed and thoroughly tested in the term of cryptographic security in our laboratory, what there is the most important part of this publication. Real cryptographic security was tested based on the author's software and the software environment called RDieHarder. The obtained results will be here presented and analyzed in detail with particular reference to the specificity of distributed measurement and control systems with asymmetric resources. There is presented programmed the author's acquisition process of random data from the measuring system to a computer.