University of Texas Tackles Cybersecurity of Self-Driving Cars and UAVs with DoD Grant
"Resilient Multi-Vehicle Networks" Project Launches
Overt Operator
July 24, 2023
In a world increasingly reliant on automated technologies, the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) has risen to the challenge of ensuring its security. Recently, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) awarded an $800,000 grant to UTA for research focused on building defenses against potential cyberattacks on self-driving cars and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) networks.
The research project, intriguingly titled "Resilient Multi-Vehicle Networks," is led by Animesh Chakravarthy, an associate professor in UTA's Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE). Chakravarthy is supported by co-principal investigators MAE Professor Kamesh Subbarao and Bill Beksi, an assistant professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering.
With the surge in popularity of self-driving cars and UAVs, the potential threat of cyberattacks looms large. Chakravarthy's team is aiming at this issue, highlighting the vulnerability of these networks where a small number of compromised vehicles can wreak havoc on an entire system.
"Imagine a scenario where hackers compromise just 10% of the self-driving cars in a given area. This could trigger a ripple effect, impacting all vehicles in the network," Chakravarthy stated. "Our project aims to detect such attacks as they happen and provide timely countermeasures, ensuring these vehicle networks remain resilient against such threats."
Besides defending the digital integrity of these networks, the research also extends to evaluating the economic fallout from such attacks. The team will delve into analyzing the time and financial drain resulting from traffic congestion or delays due to accidents.
Erian Armanios, the MAE Department Chair, underlined the significance of this research, emphasizing how critical it is for the continuous advancement of unmanned vehicle networks. The work undertaken by Chakravarthy, Subbarao, and Beksi is poised to play a pivotal role in securing the safe and smooth operation of these vehicle systems.
This grant-funded research arrives at a time when the public's interest in self-driving cars and UAVs is expanding but is tempered by worries about potential cyber threats. With these evolving technologies, the importance of fortifying these systems against cyberattacks is paramount, as such incursions could have extensive and dire consequences.
Chakravarthy's team is set to make a substantial contribution to the autonomous vehicles industry. By working on enhancing security and resilience, the project aims to boost public trust in the safety and dependability of self-driving cars and UAVs.
As this research unfolds, the UTA team aspires to provide crucial insights and solutions that will shape the future of self-driving cars and UAVs, with the ultimate goal of making these technologies safer and more secure for everyone.