FPGA realization of a controllable 4-D hyperchaotic system for quantum-inspired medical image encryption

Abstract Chaos-based cryptography requires robust, dynamically controllable systems for secure communication; however, existing hyperchaotic systems frequently lack precise signal characteristic control and adequate hardware validation for practical deployment. Addressing these limitations, we validate the practical feasibility of a newly developed 4-D hyperchaotic system with amplitude control and offset boosting capabilities through FPGA implementation. Our key contributions include: (1) hardware-validated controllable hyperchaotic dynamics with image-dependent adaptation, (2) quantum-inspired operations integration with verified chaotic sequences, and (3) comprehensive medical image encryption security evaluation. The cryptosystem encompasses five operational stages: image-dependent key generation, position scrambling via Generalized Quantum Arnold Transform, chaotic sequence generation, pixel value diffusion through quantum XOR operations, and controlled qubit-level scrambling. Experimental results demonstrate favorable security metrics, including high entropy values, near-zero correlation coefficients, strong resistance to differential attacks, along with notable resilience against data loss and noise interference, making it particularly suitable for telemedicine applications. This work adds a leaf to the branch of chaos-based cryptography by combining hyperchaotic dynamics with quantum-inspired principles, offering a promising and practical approach to secure data transmission.