Smart Card-Based Mutual Authentication Mechanism for UAV Networks

The frequency and severity of disasters have increased, necessitating robust monitoring and response systems over the years. Unmanned Aerial vehicles (UAVs), integrated into the Internet of Drones (IoDs), play a crucial role in real-time disaster management. This study proposes a mutual authentication mechanism for UAV networks based on smart cards, which emphasizes security and low computing overhead. Hashes and EX-OR operations guarantee efficient and secure communication, tackling important threats like impersonation, Man-In-the-Middle, identity guessing, etc. Additionally, our Scyther tool and BAN logic simulation ensures that private information is protected when producing a shared key. Results are compared to relatable authentication techniques, and protocol performance exceeds prior research. Emergency data transfer is quicker due to the protocol's minimal computing costs.