Cellular automata (CAs) with shadow cells as well as hybrid CAs can compute any arbitrary 1-1, onto function over a given set of integers. The project investigates the feasibility of using that as the basis for a plug-in hardware encryption/decryption device.

In the first stage a software simulation will be built. In addition a preliminary analysis of the cryptographic strength of the system will be made. And relevant known properties of integer functions will be evaluated for their impact on cryptographic strength. Next an assessment of the suitability of several hardware devices, such as field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) will be made. Factors such as speed of encryption, cost of mass production, and amenability to plug-and-play implementation will be taken into account. Finally, a particular hardware configuration will be chosen and implemented.