CRYPTOGRAPHIC PROTECTION MODELS IN THE CONDITIONS OF QUANTUM COMPUTING FOR COMMUNICATION CHANNELS IN AUTONOMOUS UAVS

Abstract

This paper addresses the challenge of securing communication channels in autonomous unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) under the emerging threat of quantum computing. It provides an analysis of the operational constraints of UAV platforms, including limited processing power, memory capacity, energy consumption, and the need for real-time performance. The study highlights the vulnerability of traditional cryptographic algorithms, such as RSA and ECC, to quantum attacks and emphasizes the necessity of transitioning to post-quantum cryptographic mechanisms.

A hybrid cryptographic protection model is proposed, combining post-quantum key encapsulation mechanisms (Kyber512), digital signatures (Dilithium2), and lightweight symmetric encryption algorithms (AES, ChaCha20). The proposed model is optimized for resource-constrained microcontrollers (STM32F407 and ESP32-S3) and includes a step-by-step process for key exchange, authentication, and encrypted traffic transmission.

Experimental implementation confirms the model’s efficiency in terms of execution time, memory usage, and energy consumption. Comparative analysis with classical schemes demonstrates clear advantages in terms of quantum resilience and integration feasibility into existing UAV communication protocols. The results validate the model’s practical applicability for secure real-time communication in UAV systems operating in adversarial environments.