Ensuring secure data transmission in agrotechnical monitoring systems using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) is critical due to increasing cyber threats, particularly with the advent of quantum computing. This study proposes the integration of Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), based on the BB84 protocol, as a secure key management mechanism to enhance data security in UAV-based geographic information systems (GIS) for monitoring agricultural fields and forest fires. QKD is not an encryption algorithm but a secure key distribution protocol that provides information-theoretic security by leveraging the principles of quantum mechanics. Rather than replacing traditional encryption methods, QKD complements them by ensuring the secure generation and distribution of encryption keys, while AES-128 is employed for efficient data encryption. The QKD framework is optimized for real-time operations through adaptive key generation and energy-efficient hardware, alongside Lempel–Ziv–Welch (LZW) compression to improve the bandwidth efficiency. The simulation results demonstrate that the proposed system achieves secure key generation rates up to 50 Mbps with minimal computational overhead, maintaining reliability even under adverse environmental conditions. This hybrid approach significantly improves data resilience against both quantum and classical cyber-attacks, offering a comprehensive and robust solution for secure agrotechnical data transmission.
Ensuring secure data transmission in agrotechnical monitoring systems using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) is critical due to increasing cyber threats, particularly with the advent of quantum computing. This study proposes the integration of Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), based on the BB84 protocol, as a secure key management mechanism to enhance data security in UAV-based geographic information systems (GIS) for monitoring agricultural fields and forest fires. QKD is not an encryption algorithm but a secure key distribution protocol that provides information-theoretic security by leveraging the principles of quantum mechanics. Rather than replacing traditional encryption methods, QKD complements them by ensuring the secure generation and distribution of encryption keys, while AES-128 is employed for efficient data encryption. The QKD framework is optimized for real-time operations through adaptive key generation and energy-efficient hardware, alongside Lempel–Ziv–Welch (LZW) compression to improve the bandwidth efficiency. The simulation results demonstrate that the proposed system achieves secure key generation rates up to 50 Mbps with minimal computational overhead, maintaining reliability even under adverse environmental conditions. This hybrid approach significantly improves data resilience against both quantum and classical cyber-attacks, offering a comprehensive and robust solution for secure agrotechnical data transmission.
Maritime communication systems face critical challenges in ensuring secure, reliable, and long-range connectivity due to inherent vulnerabilities in traditional encryption, coverage gaps in remote sea areas, and susceptibility to eavesdropping under complex maritime conditions. While Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)-assisted networks have expanded coverage, security remains a persistent concern. Quantum communication, leveraging quantum key distribution (QKD), offers a paradigm shift by ensuring information-theoretic security. This paper proposes a UAV-based quantum relay maritime communication system that integrates QKD, UAV relays, and satellite networks to establish a hybrid quantum-classical architecture. The innovation lies in deploying UAVs as dynamic relay nodes to enable BB84-protocol-based QKD, while satellites ensure global coverage. Key advancements include: (1) a unidirectional quantum channel design featuring UAV-mounted quantum emitters (Alice) and ship-based receivers (Bob), minimizing technical complexity while ensuring secure key distribution; (2) a multi-layered network integrating ship-UAV-ship, ship-UAV-base station, and ship-satellite communication modes, enhancing resilience against environmental interference; and (3) real-time quantum-classical synergy, where classical data channels (e.g., AES-encrypted) are dynamically secured by QKD-generated keys, achieving compatibility with existing infrastructure while eliminating key leakage risks. Simulations validate the system’s resilience under maritime conditions: optimizing parameters such as detection efficiency (eff > 90%) and dark count (dc < 10⁻⁶/pulse) achieves a stable secure key rate over 100 km, with a Quantum Bit Error Rate (QBER) below 0.5% at 200 km. The proposed architecture offers transformative applications in maritime safety, emergency response, and offshore operations, providing eavesdropping-resistant links for remote vessels and secure data exchange for critical infrastructure. By bridging the gap between quantum security and practical maritime deployment, this work establishes a scalable blueprint for next-generation communication systems in military, commercial, and environmental monitoring domains.
Modern aeroponic systems leverage internet of things (IoT) technology for automated control of climate, lighting, and nutrient delivery, rendering them susceptible to unauthorized access and network attacks. Such disruptions can lead to financial losses and impair agricultural productivity by altering essential growth conditions. To mitigate these risks, robust security measures including encryption and firewalls are essential, alongside continuous monitoring and updates to combat evolving threats. Addressing cyber threats in urban aeroponic systems, implementing quantum encryption emerges as a promising solution. Quantum key distribution (QKD) ensures highly secure encryption keys using quantum states that change upon eavesdropping, thereby thwarting intrusion attempts effectively. Integrating quantum encryption in aeroponic control systems safeguards data integrity and operational continuity against cyber threats, bolstering urban agriculture resilience. Our findings demonstrate the efficacy of quantum BB84 protocol integrated with API for Eve’s security. Quantum bit error rate (QBER) measurements revealed minimal interference (0.015) for Alice and Bob, contrasting with higher initial QBER (up to 1.0) for Eve, indicative of intrusion attempts. Histogram analysis further underscored quantum security’s effectiveness in identifying and mitigating breaches. For future research, enhancing quantum encryption protocols and integrating advanced detection mechanisms will be essential.
The combination of quantum computing, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence (AI) ushers in a new era of safe and robust UAV networks. This chapter analyzes novel approaches that use quantum computing, AI, and cybersecurity principles to address the dynamic issues of UAV networks. Key target areas include quantum-resistant cryptographic algorithms, AI-driven threat detection and response systems, and UAV-specific secure communication protocols. These innovations reduce cyberrisks, protect data integrity, and increase the robustness of quantum-enabled UAV systems. The chapter illustrates enhanced threat detection, adaptive cybersecurity, and secure data transfer through the use of cutting-edge techniques, which raise operational effectiveness and mission success rates. With features including better data protection, reduced susceptibility to attacks, and AI-enhanced decision-making, resilient quantum UAV networks find applications in military, surveillance, disaster response, agriculture, and infrastructure monitoring. This chapter concludes by discussing the revolutionary potential of AI and quantum computing in UAV networks. It emphasizes the significance of proactive cybersecurity and AI-driven resilience in shaping the development of unmanned aerial systems, fostering innovation, and ensuring the safety of critical UAV operations.
Secure communication is vital for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operations, where ensuring data integrity and secrecy is essential. The distinctive challenges in UAV communication UAV communication and the evolving quantum computing field heighten the vulnerabilities of traditional cryptographic methods. Quantum cryptography quantum cryptography offers a promising solution by leveraging quantum mechanics to establish provably secure channels. This chapter provides a comprehensive overview of quantum cryptography quantum cryptography in UAV communications, covering fundamental concepts of quantum mechanics relevant to cryptography. It explores protocols like quantum key distribution (QKD QKD ), quantum secure direct communication (QSDC), and quantum teleportation, quantum teleportation discussing their applicability and limitations in UAV networks. Additionally, the chapter discusses how quantum communication can be effectively utilized for long-range UAV communication. Furthermore, it delves into implementing quantum cryptography-as-a-service for UAVs, presenting real-world case studies and outlining future directions and challenges. Serving as a roadmap for integrating quantum cryptography, this chapter ensures robust security in UAV operations against evolving threats.
Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have accordingly been successfully integrated into different industries, including military, healthcare, and education, because of their diverse applications and sophisticated capabilities. Nevertheless, UAVs are increasingly confronted with significant security and operational issues related to communications and collision avoidance. This chapter will discuss in detail the convergence of quantum cryptography with UAVs for enhanced security against these problems. Starting with a critical examination of the literature on the subject at hand, the paper traces the historical evolution of cryptography and discusses the present trends in UAV technology. The existing security standards are discussed, including their shortcomings, paving the way for the need for stricter ones. The principles of quantum cryptography, including quantum key distribution (QKD), are briefly summarized below in relation to classical cryptography. In the case of UAV communications, challenges include uniqueness threats, the real-time context, and the recently emerging problem of collision, all of which should be addressed. The proposed layered architecture here will include quantum cryptography to guarantee data security while enhancing communication efficiency. This will provide a framework for future development by explaining in detail the design, implementation, and security mechanisms of the proposed solution. Its performance will be evaluated in various case studies of military, healthcare, and education environments. The performance evaluation parameters have been addressed in detail to emphasize the strengths of the system and areas for improvement. The research raises the newly arising collision problem with UAVs and offers quantum solutions to improve the collision avoidance mechanism. This chapter will describe in depth how quantum cryptography merges with UAVs for increased protection against these issues. Beginning with a critical study of the available literature on the topic at hand, the paper follows the historical development of cryptography and discusses the current trends in UAVs. The prevailing security standards are discussed, along with their limitations, leading to the necessity for stricter ones. The quantum cryptographic principles, such as QKD, are briefly summarized below as applied to classical cryptography. Uniqueness threats, the real-time context, and the recently emerging problem of collision are challenges that should be addressed in the case of UAV communications.
ABSTRACT Smart grids, as critical Internet‐of‐Things (IoT) applications, demand highly secure data transmission due to their reliance on interconnected devices and networks for managing electricity. Traditional encryption methods face challenges in secure key distribution and are increasingly vulnerable to quantum attacks. This work addresses these vulnerabilities by utilizing quantum cryptography to secure data exchange in smart grid systems. The primary contributions are the implementation of multi‐level encryption algorithms, specifically Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) and the BB84 protocol, to ensure robust confidentiality and integrity in data transmission, overcoming key distribution issues and providing inherent detection of eavesdropping. Our proposed system facilitates secured, real‐time monitoring, control, and optimization of electricity generation, distribution, and consumption among distributed components. The performance of this framework is evaluated based on key metrics including relative execution time, correlation analysis of plaintext versus ciphertext, and privacy amplification effectiveness, demonstrating enhanced security and operational efficiency.