Researchers in cybersecurity aim to realize truly
unclonable identification and authentication tags to defend global
systems from ever-increasing counterfeit attacks. In a new report
now published on Nature: Microsystems & Nanoengineering,
Sushant Rassay and a team of researchers in electrical and computer
engineering at the University of Florida, U.S., demonstrated
nanoscale tags to explore an electromechanical spectral signature
as a fingerprint based on the inherent randomness of the
fabrication process. The ultraminiature size and transparent
constituents of the nanoelectromechanical (NEMS) tags provided
substantial immunity to physical tampering and cloning efforts. The
NEMS can typically convert forms of mechanical and vibrational
energy from the environment into electric power by developing
reliable power sources for ultralow power wireless electronic
devices. The team also developed adaptive algorithms to digitally
translate the spectral signature into binary fingerprints. The
experiments highlighted the potential of clandestine (stealthy)
NEMS to secure identification and authentication across a range of
products and consumer goods.
Nanoelectromechanical tags for tamper-proof product
identification and authentication
