Development of a FPGA-based True Random Number Generator for Space Applications

Sammanfattning: Random numbers are required for cryptographic applications such as IT security products, smart cards etc. Hardwarebased random number generators are widely employed. Cryptographic algorithms are implemented on FieldProgrammable Gate Arrays (FPGAs). In this work a True Random Number Generator (TRNG) employed for spaceapplication was designed, investigated and evaluated. Several cryptographic requirements has to be satisfied for therandom numbers. Two different noise sources was designed and implemented on the FPGA. The first design wasbased on ring oscillators as a noise source. The second design was based on astable oscillators developed on a separatehardware board and interfaced with the FPGA as another noise source. The main aim of the project was to analyse theimportant requirement of independent noise source on a physical level. Jitter from the oscillators being the source forthe randomness, was analysed on both the noise sources. The generated random sequences was finally subjected tostatistical tests.