GoKawiilPROBoter - A platform for automated PCB analysis Part I of the PROBoter blog post series
This is the first article of a four part blog post series that introduces this platform. The following topics will be discussed in this series:
Securityanalysisofembeddedsystems on the Printed Circuit Board (PCB) level can be a very tedious and time-consuming task. Many steps like visual PCB inspection and reverse engineering of security relevant nets, i.e. electrically connected components, is usually done manually by an embedded security expert. Things get even worse when multiple hardware revisions of the same PCB must be examined. To support analysts in this field, the aim of the master’s thesis AutomatisierungderhardwarenahenSicherheitsanalysevoneingebettetenSystemen written at SCHUTZWERK in cooperation with HochschuleKempten was to find new ways to automate as many of the tasks required when doing PCB security analysis as possible. The result is a hardware and software platform called the PROBoter. The PROBoter’s main features are:
A hardware platform that provides automated probing with up to four independent probes .
. A camera system that is fully integrated in the hardware platform to generate high resolution PCB images.
that is fully integrated in the hardware platform to generate high resolution PCB images. Simple construction of the hardware platform based on standard parts and 3D printed components which facilitates easy and cost-efficient replication.
of the hardware platform based on standard parts and 3D printed components which facilitates easy and cost-efficient replication. Automated calibration of the whole platform to compensate linear errors related to manufacturing and the assembly process.
of the whole platform to compensate linear errors related to manufacturing and the assembly process. Automated visual PCB analysis based on Neural Networks to localize Integrated Circuits (ICs) and their corresponding pins on PCB images.
to localize Integrated Circuits (ICs) and their corresponding pins on PCB images. A click-and-probe software solution that utilizes the hardware platform for automated PCB image generation, visual analysis and (semi-)automated probing.
that utilizes the hardware platform for automated PCB image generation, visual analysis and (semi-)automated probing. The hardware design and software is open-source. Check out the PROBoter Github repository
... continue reading