A Novel ZYNQ SoC-based Data Acquisition System for Physical Unclonable Functions

Abstract

Physical Unclonable Functions have emerged as essential hardware security primitives, leveraging inherent manufacturing variations to generate unique identifiers for devices. However, comprehensive on-chip characterization has been insufficiently addressed in the literature, particularly regarding data acquisition systems designed to collect CRP data for PUF performance evaluation. In this work, we present a ZYNQ SoC-based data acquisition system specifically tailored for PUFs using the AMD PYNQ framework. The PYNQ platform facilitates the integration of custom IP blocks with the ARM processor using its overlay concept. This approach allows for rapid prototyping without the need to re-synthesize the entire system, thus saving design time. Furthermore, it facilitates the integration of existing projects, making PYNQ a versatile tool for a broad range of applications. Through a detailed use case, we have demonstrated the successful operation of our proposed PUF CRP Data Acquisition System. Our approach extends beyond data acquisition, offering potential future applications in scenarios that require a Hardware-in-the-Loop methodology. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.