K2 - C2: Quantum Safe MCU
Overview
The Quantum-Safe Microcontroller Unit (QSMCU) is a next-generation secure embedded processor designed to safeguard connected devices against evolving cybersecurity threats, including those posed by quantum computing. Equipped with dedicated hardware acceleration for Kyber (key encapsulation) and Dilithium (digital signatures)—both finalists in NIST’s post-quantum cryptography standardization—the QSMCU delivers high-performance quantum-resistant encryption and authentication with minimal power and latency overhead. Built for IoT, industrial automation, medical devices, and defense systems, it features secure boot, encrypted firmware updates, and tamper-resistant key storage. Compact, efficient, and future-ready, the QSMCU is the ideal solution for mission-critical applications demanding long-term cryptographic security.
Dive into the Details
01
RISC-V Core (RV32IMAC)
The MCU features a high-efficiency 32-bit RISC-V RV32IMAC core with support for Multiplication (M), Atomic operations (A), and Compressed instructions (C). It offers a strong balance of performance and code density, along with bit manipulation instructions critical for cryptographic functions. The core also includes the ZiCSR extension, which enables fast and structured access to Control and Status Registers (CSRs), supporting real-time features like privilege management, exception handling, and interrupt control.
02
Crypto Accelerator
A dedicated hardware crypto accelerator is embedded within the MCU to handle AES and SHA algorithm efficiently. This accelerator is tightly integrated with the RISC-V core and accessed via crypto-specific extensions. It delivers at least 2× performance improvement over software-based implementations, while also minimizing memory usage, making it ideal for secure and performance-sensitive embedded applications.
03
Software Development Kit (SDK) and IDE
An SDK is bundled with the MCU, enabling developers to write secure applications using the crypto accelerator. The SDK supports inline assembly to expose hardware crypto features directly through the RISC-V instruction set. Development is carried out using the Eclipse IDE with full support for C/C++, and JTAG integration allows users to monitor internal MCU states during debugging and testing stages of development.
04
Real-Time Operating System (RTOS) Support
The MCU supports the integration of RTOS environments to manage real-time tasks effectively. This is achieved through Control and Status Registers (CSRs), the ZiCSR extension, and the Core Local Interrupt Controller (CLINT). These components allow precise task control, interrupt management, and timing operations. Popular RTOS options like Zephyr and FreeRTOS are fully compatible and configurable for this MCU platform.