Comparative Analysis of Lightweight Cryptography Algorithms on Resource Constrained Microcontrollers

This paper studies the performances of lightweight cryptographic algorithms on microcontrollers with limited resources, namely, computing power and memory. STM8 Microcontroller platform has been chosen as the test platform owing to its sub-20 cent market price and increasing popularity. Algorithms were selected from a broader list of widely used architecture- independent cryptography algorithms and have been coded in C language, fully conforming to their definitive documents. Tests have been carried out on ST's widely available STM8S-Discovery boards. All outputs have been measured employing electronic instruments calibrated by the accredited agencies. Results tabulated in the paper reveal the performance differences and resource requirements of the algorithms and highlights the influence of the optimization level chosen on the results.