Robotics Research for Cybersecurity

Abstract : The overall objective of this project is to conduct a comprehensive study of robotics research in the context of cybersecurity. The specific objectives are as follows: (1) Create a realistic cybersecurity test scenario that captures the unique and increasingly difficult robotics research challenges; (2) Survey the state-of-the-art in applicable research and technology; (3) Identify and analyze the salient research challenges with a primary focus on computational sciences; (4) Define multiple dimensions of these challenges, including relative difficulty as well as what is needed for robust autonomy; (5) Conduct a workshop with the goal of bringing together a multidisciplinary group of top researchers and experts in cybersecurity to develop, detail, and prioritize research challenges for the next 3-to-5 years. During the course of the project, the investigators accomplished the following: created a robotic scenario in which a robot enters a room via a challenging entrance and delivers a small package into a slot similar to an USB port; organized a Robotics Challenge Competition at the 2011 International Conference for Robotics and Automation; performed a high-level survey of applicable technologies; and identified and discussed the robotic challenges that must be solved for cybersecurity.