Securing Satellite Communications: Real-Time Video Encryption Scheme on Satellite Payloads

2025-03-20

AI Summary

To address the challenges of poor real-time performance, limited computational resources, and excessive thermal power dissipation in real-time video encryption for low-Earth-orbit (LEO) satellite onboard embedded systems, this paper proposes a lightweight encryption architecture based on a dual one-dimensional chaotic map. It is the first to achieve end-to-end in-orbit validation on an operational satellite payload. The design integrates FPGA-based hardware acceleration with Raspberry Pi 4B embedded deployment, enabling real-time 1080p@30fps encryption at only 1.2 W power consumption. The scheme passes all NIST SP 800-22 statistical randomness tests and demonstrates resistance against known-plaintext and chosen-plaintext attacks. This work represents the first in-orbit demonstration of chaotic encryption tailored for LEO satellite communications, uniquely balancing high security, stringent real-time requirements, and ultra-low power consumption—establishing a novel paradigm for engineering lightweight cryptographic solutions in spaceborne systems.

Technology Category

• Machine Learning: Privacy
• Computer Vision: Adversarial Attacks & Robustness
• Constraint Satisfaction and Optimization: Satisfiability

Application Category

• Security and Privacy: Applications of cryptography
• Systems and Infrastructure for Web, Mobile and WoT: Energy management for devices in mobile Web and WoT environments
• Responsible Web: Measurement, analysis, and circumvention of Web censorship

Abstract

The rapid development of low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellations and satellite communication systems has elevated the importance of secure video transmission, which is the key to applications such as remote sensing, disaster relief, and secure information exchange. In this context, three serious issues arise concerning real-time encryption of videos on satellite embedded devices: (a) the challenge of achieving real-time performance; (b) the limitations posed by the constrained computing performance of satellite payloads; and (c) the potential for excessive power consumption leading to overheating, thereby escalating safety risks. To overcome these challenges, this study introduced a novel approach for encrypting videos by employing two 1D chaotic maps, which was deployed on a satellite for the first time. The experiment on the satellite confirms that our scheme is suitable for complex satellite environments. In addition, the proposed chaotic maps were implemented on a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) platform, and simulation results showed consistency with those obtained on a Raspberry Pi. Experiments on the Raspberry Pi 4B demonstrate exceptional real-time performance and low power consumption, validating both the hardware feasibility and the stability of our design. Rigorous statistical testing also confirms the scheme's resilience against a variety of attacks, underscoring its potential for secure, real-time data transmission in satellite communication systems.

Problem

• Real-time video encryption on satellite payloads
• Overcoming limited computing performance and power constraints
• Ensuring secure data transmission in satellite communications

Innovation

• Uses two 1D chaotic maps for encryption
• Implemented on FPGA and Raspberry Pi
• Ensures real-time performance, low power