Developing resilient cyber-physical systems: A review of state-of-the-art malware detection approaches, gaps, and future directions

Cyber-physical systems (CPSes) are rapidly evolving in critical infrastructure (CI) domains such as smart grid, healthcare, the military, and telecommunication. These systems are continually threatened by malicious software (malware) attacks by adversaries due to their improvised tactics and attack methods. A minor configuration change in a CPS through malware has devastating effects, which the world has seen in Stuxnet, BlackEnergy, Industroyer, and Triton. This paper is a comprehensive review of malware analysis practices currently being used and their limitations and efficacy in securing CPSes. Using well-known real-world incidents, we have covered the significant impacts when a CPS is compromised. In particular, we have prepared exhaustive hypothetical scenarios to discuss the implications of false positives on CPSes. To improve the security of critical systems, we believe that nature-inspired metaheuristic algorithms can effectively counter the overwhelming malware threats geared toward CPSes. However, our detailed review shows that these algorithms have not been adapted to their full potential to counter malicious software. Finally, the gaps identified through this research have led us to propose future research directions using nature-inspired algorithms that would help in bringing optimization by reducing false positives, thereby increasing the security of such systems

Multi-agent evolutionary systems for the generation of complex virtual worlds

Modern films, games and virtual reality applications are dependent on convincing computer graphics. Highly complex models are a requirement for the successful delivery of many scenes and environments. While workflows such as rendering, compositing and animation have been streamlined to accommodate increasing demands, modelling complex models is still a laborious task. This paper introduces the computational benefits of an Interactive Genetic Algorithm (IGA) to computer graphics modelling while compensating the effects of user fatigue, a common issue with Interactive Evolutionary Computation. An intelligent agent is used in conjunction with an IGA that offers the potential to reduce the effects of user fatigue by learning from the choices made by the human designer and directing the search accordingly. This workflow accelerates the layout and distribution of basic elements to form complex models. It captures the designer's intent through interaction, and encourages playful discovery

Using metaheuristics to improve the placement of multi-controllers in software-defined networking enabled clouds

SDN is a model that separates the control and the data levels in an arrangement to enhance capability to program and configure the network in a more agile and efficient manner. Multiple controller modules have been used in the SDN engineering to empower programmable and adaptable configurations such as improving scalability and reliability. The distance and time calculations and other performance measures have to be considered in solving the Multi-Controller Position Problem (MCPP). This paper investigates the use of metaheuristic algorithms to build an MCPP mathematical model. Both the symmetric Harmony Search (HS) modelling and the Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm are considered in this respect. Thus, our hybrid approach is proposed and known as Harmony Search with Particle Swarm Optimization (HSPSO) is applied and we compared the extracted results with the state-of-the-art techniques in the previous literature. Besides the development of the mathematical model, a simulation study has been done considering the relevant parameters including the link distance description and the access time between the SDN entities. The console simulation uses NetBeans with CloudsimSDN procedure files in the SDN-based cloud environment

On the optimal selection and integration of batteries in dc grids through a mixed-integer quadratic convex formulation

This paper deals with the problem of the optimal selection and location of batteries in DC distribution grids by proposing a new mixed-integer convex model. The exact mixed-integer nonlin-ear model is transformed into a mixed-integer quadratic convex model (MIQC) by approximating the product among voltages in the power balance equations as a hyperplane. The most important characteristic of our proposal is that the MIQC formulations ensure the global optimum reaching via branch & bound methods and quadratic programming since each combination of the binary variables generates a node with a convex optimization subproblem. The formulation of the objective function is associated with the minimization of the energy losses for a daily operation scenario considering high renewable energy penetration. Numerical simulations show the effectiveness of the proposed MIQC model to reach the global optimum of the optimization model when compared with the exact optimization model in a 21-node test feeder. All the validations are carried out in the GAMS optimization software.Fil: Serra, Federico Martin. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias Agropecuarias. Laboratorio de Control Automático; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Luis. Instituto de Investigaciones en Tecnología Química. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia. Instituto de Investigaciones en Tecnología Química; ArgentinaFil: Montoya Giraldo, Oscar Danilo. Universidad Distrital Francisco José de Caldas; Colombia. Universidad Tecnológica de Bolívar; ColombiaFil: Alvarado Barrios, Lázaro. Universidad Loyola Andalucia; EspañaFil: Álvarez Arroyo, Cesar. Universidad de Sevilla; EspañaFil: Chamorro, Harold R.. Royal Institute of Technology; Sueci

Investigating different optimization criteria for a hybrid job scheduling approach based on heuristics and metaheuristics

The Information Technology industry has revolutionized through the advent of cloud computing as the cloud offers dynamic computing utilities to global users. The performance of cloud computing services depends on the process of job scheduling. There has been a great research focus on the different amalgamation of heuristics with meta-heuristics (hybrid scheduling approaches) in the cloud computing scheduling context with the aim of optimizing several performance metrics. This paper discusses a hybrid job scheduling approach that intends to optimize the performance metrics namely makespan, average flow time, average waiting time, and throughput. The main focus of this paper is to evaluate this hybrid job scheduling approach based on different optimization criteria which includes single-objective and multi-objectives functions based on the aforementioned performance metrics on different large-scale problem instances. This helps us to investigate and identify the best optimization criteria for the hybrid job scheduling approach

Computational Intelligence Application in Electrical Engineering

The Special Issue "Computational Intelligence Application in Electrical Engineering" deals with the application of computational intelligence techniques in various areas of electrical engineering. The topics of computational intelligence applications in smart power grid optimization, power distribution system protection, and electrical machine design and control optimization are presented in the Special Issue. The co-simulation approach to metaheuristic optimization methods and simulation tools for a power system analysis are also presented. The main computational intelligence techniques, evolutionary optimization, fuzzy inference system, and an artificial neural network are used in the research presented in the Special Issue. The articles published in this issue present the recent trends in computational intelligence applications in the areas of electrical engineering

Hybrid microgrid energy management and control based on metaheuristic-driven vector-decoupled algorithm considering intermittent renewable sources and electric vehicles charging lot

Energy management and control of hybrid microgrids is a challenging task due to the varying nature of operation between AC and DC components which leads to voltage and frequency issues. This work utilizes a metaheuristic-based vector-decoupled algorithm to balance the control and operation of hybrid microgrids in the presence of stochastic renewable energy sources and electric vehicles charging structure. The AC and DC parts of the microgrid are coupled via a bidirectional interlinking converter, with the AC side connected to a synchronous generator and portable AC loads, while the DC side is connected to a photovoltaic system and an electric vehicle charging system. To properly ensure safe and efficient exchange of power within allowable voltage and frequency levels, the vector-decoupled control parameters of the bidirectional converter are tuned via hybridization of particle swarm optimization and artificial physics optimization. The proposed control algorithm ensures the stability of both voltage and frequency levels during the severe condition of islanding operation and high pulsed demands conditions as well as the variability of renewable source production. The proposed methodology is verified in a state-of-the-art hardware-in-the-loop testbed. The results show robustness and effectiveness of the proposed algorithm in managing the real and reactive power exchange between the AC and DC parts of the microgrid within safe and acceptable voltage and frequency levels

Maximizing Savonius Turbine Performance using Kriging Surrogate Model and Grey Wolf-Driven Cylindrical Deflector Optimization

With the growing demand for power and the pressing need to shift towards renewable energy sources, wind power stands as a vital component of the energy transition. To optimize energy production, researchers have focused on design optimization of Savonius-type vertical axis wind turbines (VAWTs). The current study utilizes Unsteady Reynolds-Averaged Navier Stokes (URANS) simulations using the sliding mesh technique to obtain flow field data and power coefficients. A Kriging Surrogate model was trained on the numerical data of randomly initialized data points to construct a response surface model. Then Grey Wolf Optimization (GWO) algorithm was utilized to achieve global maxima on this surface, using the turbine's power coefficient as the objective function. A comparative analysis was carried out between simulation and experimental data from prior studies to validate the accuracy of the numerical model. The optimized turbine-deflector configuration showed a maximum improvement of 34.24% in power coefficient. Additionally, the GWO algorithm's effectiveness was compared with Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) and was found to be better in most cases, converging towards the global maxima faster. This study explores a relatively unexplored realm of metaheuristic optimization of wind turbines by using deflectors, for efficient energy harvesting, presenting promising prospects for enhancing renewable power generation.Comment: Accepted at 10th International and 50th National Conference on Fluid Mechanics and Fluid Power (FMFP-2023): 6 pages, 12 figure