Chameleon Chaotic System-Based Audio Encryption Algorithm and FPGA Implementation

Audio encryption has gained popularity in a variety of fields including education, banking over the phone, military, and private audio conferences. Data encryption algorithms are necessary for processing and sending sensitive information in the context of secure speech conversations. In recent years, the importance of security in any communications system has increased. To transfer data securely, a variety of methods have been used. Chaotic system-based encryption is one of the most significant encryption methods used in the field of security. Chaos-based communication is a promising application of chaos theory and nonlinear dynamics. In this research, a chaotic algorithm for the new chaotic chameleon system was proposed, studied, and implemented. The chameleon chaotic system has been preferred to be employed because it has the property of changing from self-excited (SA) to hidden-attractor (HA) which increases the complexity of the system dynamics and gives strength to the encryption algorithm. A chaotic chameleon system is one in which, depending on the parameter values, the chaotic attractor alternates between being a hidden attractor and a self-excited attractor. This is an important feature, so it is preferable to use it in cryptography compared to other types of chaotic systems. This model was first implemented using a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), which is the first time it has been implemented in practical applications. The chameleon system model was implemented using MATLAB Simulink and the Xilinx System Generator model. Self-excited, hidden, and coexisting attractors are shown in the proposed system. Vivado software was used to validate the designs, and Xilinx ZedBoard Zynq-7000 FPGA was used to implement them. The dynamic behavior of the proposed chaotic system was also studied and analysis methods, including phase portrait, bifurcation diagrams, and Lyapunov exponents. Assessing the quality of the suggested method by doing analyses of many quality measures, including correlation, differential signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), entropy, histogram analysis, and spectral density plot. The numerical analyses and simulation results demonstrate how well the suggested method performs in terms of security against different types of cryptographic assaults.