C-Resist
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Demographic change, a shortage of skilled labour, and growing demands on critical infrastructure mean that new solutions are necessary. Intelligent robotic systems are therefore increasingly being used to perform key tasks in the transport sector, alleviating the burden on people and creating economic benefits. However, their growing automation and networking also make them a favoured target for cyber attacks.
The DLR junior research group C-RESIST (Cyber-Resilience for Intelligent Robotic Services in Transport and Society) is developing a new methodology that incorporates cyber resilience as an engineering-based, lifecycle-oriented design principle from the outset of the development process. This is the only way to effectively prevent cyber security incidents and enable systems to be quickly restored if necessary.
From theory to practice
The C-RESIST methodology builds on existing safety and security-by-design approaches, incorporating aspects of cyber resilience. It incorporates methods for preventing and detecting attacks, as well as strategies for mitigating and recovering from them. Evaluation is carried out by systematically increasing the degree of reality, progressing from pure simulation environments to virtual reality tests and, finally, hybrid reality environments, where virtual and real components interact.
The practicality is demonstrated by two specific use cases: a human-orchestrated fleet of service robots for transporting and distributing parcels in road traffic, and a system for rescuing people in crisis areas. These scenarios highlight the dual-use potential of intelligent robotic systems and address current social challenges.
Trust through transparency
This project considers not only technical safety aspects, but also key issues relating to privacy, trust and responsibility. This is because robotic systems process highly sensitive data and interact directly with humans. C-RESIST proactively addresses regulatory frameworks such as the NIS-2 Directive, the Cyber Resilience Act and the EU's AI Act, ensuring that solutions developed are compatible with European values.
Through targeted knowledge exchange and technology transfer, the latest security-relevant technologies are identified early on, tested in practice and developed into secure products for new markets. These tests are conducted in the large-scale research facility, 'Rapid AI Development and Test', at the Institute for AI Security. There, virtual environments are integrated with real-world elements such as humans, robots and vehicles.
Contribution of the Institute for AI Safety and Security
The DLR Junior Research Group C-RESIST is based at the Institute for AI Safety and Security. It combines the Institute's research focus on safe, standards-compliant AI with expertise in cybersecurity and resilience. The project integrates safety and security-by-design methodologies with pioneering engineering techniques to develop cyber-resilient intelligent systems. Tests are carried out in the institute's own large-scale research facility, 'Rapid AI Development and Test'. By systematically anchoring cyber resilience for robotic service systems in transport, the institute is playing a pioneering role in the current research landscape.