Hardware Security Implications of Reliability, Remanence and Recovery in Embedded Memory

Secure semiconductor devices usually destroy key material on tamper detection. However, data remanence effect in SRAM and Flash/EEPROM makes secure erasure process more challenging. On the other hand, data integrity of the embedded memory is essential to mitigate fault attacks and Trojan malware. Data retention issues could influence the reliability of embedded systems. Some examples of such issues in industrial and automotive applications are presented. When it comes to the security of semiconductor devices, both data remanence and data retention issues could lead to possible data recovery by an attacker. This paper introduces a new power glitching technique that reduces the data remanence time in embedded SRAM from seconds to microseconds at almost no cost. This would definitely help in designing systems with better secret key guarding. Data remanence in non-volatile memory could be influenced in the same way. The effect of data remanence and data retention on hardware security is discussed and possible countermeasures are suggested. This should raise awareness among the designers of secure embedded systems

ELECTRICAL CHARACTERIZATION, PHYSICS, MODELING AND RELIABILITY OF INNOVATIVE NON-VOLATILE MEMORIES

Enclosed in this thesis work it can be found the results of a three years long research activity performed during the XXIV-th cycle of the Ph.D. school in Engineering Science of the Università degli Studi di Ferrara. The topic of this work is concerned about the electrical characterization, physics, modeling and reliability of innovative non-volatile memories, addressing most of the proposed alternative to the floating-gate based memories which currently are facing a technology dead end. Throughout the chapters of this thesis it will be provided a detailed characterization of the envisioned replacements for the common NOR and NAND Flash technologies into the near future embedded and MPSoCs (Multi Processing System on Chip) systems. In Chapter 1 it will be introduced the non-volatile memory technology with direct reference on nowadays Flash mainstream, providing indications and comments on why the system designers should be forced to change the approach to new memory concepts. In Chapter 2 it will be presented one of the most studied post-floating gate memory technology for MPSoCs: the Phase Change Memory. The results of an extensive electrical characterization performed on these devices led to important discoveries such as the kinematics of the erase operation and potential reliability threats in memory operations. A modeling framework has been developed to support the experimental results and to validate them on projected scaled technology. In Chapter 3 an embedded memory for automotive environment will be shown: the SimpleEE p-channel memory. The characterization of this memory proven the technology robustness providing at the same time new insights on the erratic bits phenomenon largely studied on NOR and NAND counterparts. Chapter 4 will show the research studies performed on a memory device based on the Nano-MEMS concept. This particular memory generation proves to be integrated in very harsh environment such as military applications, geothermal and space avionics. A detailed study on the physical principles underlying this memory will be presented. In Chapter 5 a successor of the standard NAND Flash will be analyzed: the Charge Trapping NAND. This kind of memory shares the same principles of the traditional floating gate technology except for the storage medium which now has been substituted by a discrete nature storage (i.e. silicon nitride traps). The conclusions and the results summary for each memory technology will be provided in Chapter 6. Finally, on Appendix A it will be shown the results of a recently started research activity on the high level reliability memory management exploiting the results of the studies for Phase Change Memories

Alternative vehicle electronic architecture for individual wheel control

Electronic control systems have become an integral part of the modern vehicle and their installation rate is still on a sharp rise. Their application areas range from powertrain, chassis and body control to entertainment. Each system is conventionally control led by a centralised controller with hard-wired links to sensors and actuators. As systems have become more complex, a rise in the number of system components and amount of wiring harness has followed. This leads to serious problems on safety, reliability and space limitation. Different networking and vehicle electronic architectures have been developed by others to ease these problems. The thesis proposes an alternative architecture namely Distributed Wheel Architecture, for its potential benefits in terms of vehicle dynamics, safety and ease of functional addition. The architecture would have a networked controller on each wheel to perform its dynamic control including braking, suspension and steering. The project involves conducting a preliminary study and comparing the proposed architecture with four alternative existing or high potential architectures. The areas of study are functionality, complexity, and reliability. Existing ABS, active suspension and four wheel steering systems are evaluated in this work by simulation of their operations using road test data. They are used as exemplary systems, for modelling of the new electronic architecture together with the four alternatives. A prediction technique is developed, based on the derivation of software pseudo code from system specifications, to estimate the microcontroller specifications of all the system ECUs. The estimate indicates the feasibility of implementing the architectures using current microcontrollers. Message transfer on the Controller Area Network (CAN) of each architecture is simulated to find its associated delays, and hence the feasibility of installing CAN in the architectures. Architecture component costs are estimated from the costs of wires, ECUs, sensors and actuators. The number of wires is obtained from the wiring models derived from exemplary system data. ECU peripheral component counts are estimated from their statistical plot against the number of ECU pins of collected ECUs. Architecture component reliability is estimated based on two established reliability handbooks. The results suggest that all of the five architectures could be implemented using present microcontrollers. In addition, critical data transfer via CAN is made within time limits under current levels of message load, indicating the possibility of installing CAN in these architectures. The proposed architecture is expected to· be costlier in terms of components than the rest of the architectures, while it is among the leaders for wiring weight saving. However, it is expected to suffer from a relatively higher probability of system component failure. The proposed architecture is found not economically viable at present, but shows potential in reducing vehicle wire and weight problems

Design and development of auxiliary components for a new two-stroke, stratified-charge, lean-burn gasoline engine

A unique stepped-piston engine was developed by a group of research engineers at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), from 2003 to 2005. The development work undertaken by them engulfs design, prototyping and evaluation over a predetermined period of time which was iterative and challenging in nature. The main objective of the program is to demonstrate local R&D capabilities on small engine work that is able to produce mobile powerhouse of comparable output, having low-fuel consumption and acceptable emission than its crankcase counterpart of similar displacement. A two-stroke engine work was selected as it posses a number of technological challenges, increase in its thermal efficiency, which upon successful undertakings will be useful in assisting the group in future powertrain undertakings in UTM. In its carbureted version, the single-cylinder aircooled engine incorporates a three-port transfer system and a dedicated crankcase breather. These features will enable the prototype to have high induction efficiency and to behave very much a two-stroke engine but equipped with a four-stroke crankcase lubrication system. After a series of analytical work the engine was subjected to a series of laboratory trials. It was also tested on a small watercraft platform with promising indication of its flexibility of use as a prime mover in mobile platform. In an effort to further enhance its technology features, the researchers have also embarked on the development of an add-on auxiliary system. The system comprises of an engine control unit (ECU), a directinjector unit, a dedicated lubricant dispenser unit and an embedded common rail fuel unit. This support system was incorporated onto the engine to demonstrate the finer points of environmental-friendly and fuel economy features. The outcome of this complete package is described in the report, covering the methodology and the final characteristics of the mobile power plant

ANTENNA ROTATOR DESIGN AND CONTROL

This paper consists of design and development of rotator for antenna positioning according to the desired azimuth and elevation. The rotator is to have the capability to be manually controlled (press button switch) or software driven. It should incorporate safety stop switches as well as position and speed sensors in order to achieve smooth movement and correct stopping position. The basic principle needs to be studies are speed control using the microcontroller, exact angle of position movement, and stoppable motor can be done in time due to emergency cases. As larger load is applied to the device, the large inertia will need to be compensated to achieve a good dynamic. For position and speed regulation in antenna system, a DC motor will need to be used as the primary driver along with the appropriate in mechanical coupling. The appropriate and suitable rotator need to be chosen for better result in speed and position

Integrated Circuits and Systems for Smart Sensory Applications

Connected intelligent sensing reshapes our society by empowering people with increasing new ways of mutual interactions. As integration technologies keep their scaling roadmap, the horizon of sensory applications is rapidly widening, thanks to myriad light-weight low-power or, in same cases even self-powered, smart devices with high-connectivity capabilities. CMOS integrated circuits technology is the best candidate to supply the required smartness and to pioneer these emerging sensory systems. As a result, new challenges are arising around the design of these integrated circuits and systems for sensory applications in terms of low-power edge computing, power management strategies, low-range wireless communications, integration with sensing devices. In this Special Issue recent advances in application-specific integrated circuits (ASIC) and systems for smart sensory applications in the following five emerging topics: (I) dedicated short-range communications transceivers; (II) digital smart sensors, (III) implantable neural interfaces, (IV) Power Management Strategies in wireless sensor nodes and (V) neuromorphic hardware

TYRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM (CONTROLLER AND DISPLAY)

Maintaining the correct tyre pressure for a vehicle is the variable on how much load its tyres can safely drive. The correct tyre pressure can carry the weight without a problem. Too little tyre pressure will eventually cause tyre failure that can lead to many unpleasant accidents. This project requires students to study the existing system of TPMS and to come up with depth research on how to design the system from scratch and prepare the model of this system. This project is the initial background work for the development of the miniature pressure sensor and controller unit for TPMS. This main purpose of these systems is to warn the driver if their tyres are loosing air pressure, leaving the tyres under inflated and dangerous. The systems attach a pressure sensor together with transmitter to the vehicle's wheel inside the tyre's air chamber. This project is performed by two students, the author and Mr Khairul Asyraff. Mr Khairul Asyraff did the sensor and transmitter part while the author did the microcontroller and the display part and finally both parts are being merged and integrated. The final objective of the project is to design circuit consist of pressure sensor, microcontroller (PIC), transmitter and receiver. The pressure sensor used is a microelectronic device. This system will read a pressure inside a tyre and transmit it to the receiver which can produce the output (display). This report represents approaches to the scope of developing microcontroller and LCD display to warn the driver that the tyre pressure is not sufficient. Input from pressure sensor is required before a transmitter transmits data to receiver and the signal will be transmit to microcontroller to convert the signal from analogue to digital before the value being display. Mostly the related information is collected from reference books and from the internet. As for conclusion, tyre pressure monitoring system is an interesting area and important to make sure the safety of the driver and everyone inside the car