The last two decades, already many researchers have started to investigate the challenges related to CyberSecurity for Robotics. The research is truely multidisciplinary with topic coming from both Exact Sciences (Mathematics, Computer Sciences, Information Technology, AI, …), Social Sciences (IT & IP Law, Business, Innovation, …) and Applied Sciences (Electronics, Telecommunications, Automation, Robotics, …).
Topics applicable to CyberSecurity in general such as information security management can mostly be applied in a similar way in this domain, such as crypto and encryption, identity and access control, security management. Other topics are relevant because of the typical situation of the robotics systems such as industrial control technologies and automation technologies. The impact of the industrial development is equally important, since there are decades of technology to cover.
We’ve listed out research into three categories, as they are currently being executed following their nature and objectives : vulnerabilities research, academic research and industrial research.
Vulnerabilities research can be both academic and industrial – or combined, but is mainly targeted to finding weaknesses in systems, technologies, applications, robots, brands, … this helps identifying the depth and scope of the problem. From vulnerabilities to the underlying operations systems, up to the challenges related to the web application interface on top of the cloud being used to steer the robot. Vulnerabilities can be part of a responsible disclosure, or the finding of an exploit of such a vulnerability (for instance malware / ransomware).
Academic research is in a specific format, it is usually consisting out of a published paper, being the result of some desk or applied research, including title, authors, references, abstract, assumption, research description, conclusion and bibliography. It can be part of a publication (scientific journal) or a publication in itself (being a book or a paper). Research has been done following a scientific method, and practice and can be objectively performed, obtaining same results. Authors can be both from academic institutions and non-academic institutions.
Industrial research can be a publication in the form of a video, presentation, a white paper, a scientific paper, blogpost, website or any other format that presents the works being done by the industry. It can be more subjective or objective. Its origin is an organization which is manufacturer, integrator, software publisher, advisory, … but mainly not an academic institution.
