Unmanned Aircraft Systems in the Cyber Domain

Unmanned Aircraft Systems are an integral part of the US national critical infrastructure. The authors have endeavored to bring a breadth and quality of information to the reader that is unparalleled in the unclassified sphere. This textbook will fully immerse and engage the reader / student in the cyber-security considerations of this rapidly emerging technology that we know as unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). The first edition topics covered National Airspace (NAS) policy issues, information security (INFOSEC), UAS vulnerabilities in key systems (Sense and Avoid / SCADA), navigation and collision avoidance systems, stealth design, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) platforms; weapons systems security; electronic warfare considerations; data-links, jamming, operational vulnerabilities and still-emerging political scenarios that affect US military / commercial decisions. This second edition discusses state-of-the-art technology issues facing US UAS designers. It focuses on counter unmanned aircraft systems (C-UAS) – especially research designed to mitigate and terminate threats by SWARMS. Topics include high-altitude platforms (HAPS) for wireless communications; C-UAS and large scale threats; acoustic countermeasures against SWARMS and building an Identify Friend or Foe (IFF) acoustic library; updates to the legal / regulatory landscape; UAS proliferation along the Chinese New Silk Road Sea / Land routes; and ethics in this new age of autonomous systems and artificial intelligence (AI).https://newprairiepress.org/ebooks/1027/thumbnail.jp

Flight coordination solutions for multirotor unmanned aerial vehicles

[EN] As the popularity and the number of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) increases, new protocols are needed to coordinate them when flying without direct human control, and to avoid that these UAVs collide with each other. Testing such novel protocols on real UAVs is a complex procedure that requires investing much time, money and research efforts. Hence, it becomes necessary to first test the developed solutions using simulation. Unfortunately, existing tools present significant limitations: some of them only simulate accurately the flight behavior of a single UAV, while some other simulators can manage several UAVs simultaneously, but not in real time, thus losing accuracy regarding the mobility pattern of the UAV. In this work we address such problem by introducing Arducopter Simulator (ArduSim), a novel simulation platform that allows controlling in soft real-time the flight and communications of multiple UAVs, being the developed protocols directly portable to real devices. Moreover, ArduSim includes a realistic model for the WiFi communications link between UAVs, which was proposed based on real experiments. The chances that two UAVs get close to each other during their flights is increasing as more and more of them populate our skies, causing concerns regarding potential collisions. Therefore, this thesis also proposes the Mission Based Collision Avoidance Protocol (MBCAP), a novel UAV collision avoidance protocol applicable to all types of multicopters flying autonomously. It relies on wireless communications in order to detect nearby UAVs, and to negotiate the procedure to avoid any potential collision. Experimental and simulation results demonstrate the validity and effectiveness of the proposed solution, which typically introduces a small overhead in the range of 15 to 42 seconds for each risky situation successfully handled. The previous solution aims at UAVs performing independent flights, but they can also form a swarm, where more constraints have to be met to avoid collisions among them, and to allow them to complete their task efficiently. Deploying an UAV swarm instead of a single UAV can provide additional benefits when, for example, cargo carrying requirements exceed the lifting power of a single UAV, or when the deployment of several UAVs simultaneously can accelerate the accomplishment of the mission, and broaden the covered area. To this aim, in this work we present the Mission-based UAV Swarm Coordination Protocol (MUSCOP), a solution that allows multiple UAVs to perfectly coordinate their flight when performing planned missions. Experimental results show that the proposed protocol is able to achieve a high degree of swarm cohesion independently of the flight formation adopted, and even in the presence of very lossy channels, achieving minimal synchronization delays and very low position offsets with regard to the ideal case. Currently, there are some other scenarios, such as search and rescue operations, where the deployment of manually guided swarms of UAVs can be necessary. In such cases, the pilot's commands are unknown a priori (unpredictable), meaning that the UAVs must respond in near real-time to the movements of the leader UAV in order to maintain swarm consistency. Hence, in this thesis we also propose the FollowMe protocol for the coordination of UAVs in a swarm where the swarm leader is controlled by a real pilot, and the other UAVs must follow it in real-time to maintain swarm cohesion. Simulation results show the validity of the proposed swarm coordination protocol, detailing the responsiveness limits of our solution, and finding the minimum distances between UAVs to avoid collisions.[ES] A medida que la popularidad de los Vehículos Aéreos No Tripulados (VANTs) se incrementa, también se hacen necesarios nuevos protocolos para coordinarlos en vuelos sin control humano directo, y para evitar que colisionen entre sí. Probar estos nuevos protocolos en VANTs reales es un proceso complejo que requiere invertir mucho tiempo, dinero y esfuerzo investigador. Por lo tanto, es necesario probar en simulación las soluciones previamente implementadas. Lamentablemente, las herramientas actuales tienen importantes limitaciones: algunas simulan con precisión el vuelo de un único VANT, mientras que otros simuladores pueden gestionar varios VANTs simultáneamente aunque no en tiempo real, perdiendo por lo tanto precisión en el patrón de movilidad del VANT. En este trabajo abordamos este problema introduciendo Arducopter Simulator (ArduSim), una nueva plataforma de simulación que permite controlar en tiempo real el vuelo y la comunicación entre múltiples VANTs, permitiendo llevar los protocolos desarrollados a dispositivos reales con facilidad. Además, ArduSim incluye un modelo realista de un enlace de comunicaciones WiFi entre VANTs, el cual está basado en el resultado obtenido de experimentos con VANTs reales. La posibilidad de que dos VANTs se aproximen entre sí durante el vuelo se incrementa a medida que hay más aeronaves de este tipo surcando los cielos, introduciendo peligro por posibles colisiones. Por ello, esta tesis propone Mission Based Collision Avoidance Protocol (MBCAP), un nuevo protocolo de evitación de colisiones para VANTs aplicable a todo tipo de multicópteros mientras vuelan autónomamente. MBCAP utiliza comunicaciones inalámbricas para detectar VANTs cercanos y para negociar el proceso de evitación de la colisión. Los resultados de simulaciones y experimentos reales demuestran la validez y efectividad de la solución propuesta, que introduce un pequeño aumento del tiempo de vuelo de entre 15 y 42 segundos por cada situación de riesgo correctamente resuelta. La solución anterior está orientada a VANTs que realizan vuelos independientes, pero también pueden formar un enjambre, donde hay que cumplir más restricciones para evitar que colisionen entre sí, y para que completen la tarea de forma eficiente. Desplegar un enjambre de VANTs en vez de uno solo proporciona beneficios adicionales cuando, por ejemplo, la necesidad de carga excede la capacidad de elevación de un único VANT, o cuando al desplegar varios VANTs simultáneamente se acelera la misión y se cubre un área mayor. Con esta finalidad, en este trabajo presentamos el protocolo Mission-based UAV Swarm Coordination Protocol (MUSCOP), una solución que permite a varios VANTs coordinar perfectamente el vuelo mientras realizan misiones planificadas. Los resultados experimentales muestran que el protocolo propuesto permite al enjambre alcanzar un grado de cohesión elevado independientemente de la formación de vuelo adoptada, e incluso en presencia de un canal de comunicación con muchas pérdidas, consiguiendo retardos en la sincronización insignificantes y desfases mínimos en la posición con respecto al caso ideal. Actualmente hay otros escenarios, como las operaciones de búsqueda y rescate, donde el despliegue de enjambres de VANTs guiados manualmente puede ser necesario. En estos casos, las órdenes del piloto son desconocidas a priori (impredecibles), lo que significa que los VANTs deben responder prácticamente en tiempo real a los movimientos del VANT líder para mantener la consistencia del enjambre. Por ello, en esta tesis proponemos el protocolo FollowMe para la coordinación de VANTs en un enjambre donde el líder es controlado por un piloto, y el resto de VANTs lo siguen en tiempo real para mantener la cohesión del enjambre. Las simulaciones muestran la validez del protocolo de coordinación de enjambres propuesto, detallando los límites de la solución, y definiendo la distancia mínima entre VANTs para evita[CA] A mesura que la popularitat dels Vehicles Aeris No Tripulats (VANTs) s'incrementa, també es fan necessaris nous protocols per a coordinar-los en vols sense control humà directe, i per a evitar que col·lisionen entre si. Provar aquests nous protocols en VANTs reals és un procés complex que requereix invertir molt de temps, diners i esforç investigador. Per tant, és necessari provar en simulació les solucions prèviament implementades. Lamentablement, les eines actuals tenen importants limitacions: algunes simulen amb precisió el vol d'un únic VANT, mentre que altres simuladors poden gestionar diversos VANTs simultàniament encara que no en temps real, perdent per tant precisió en el patró de mobilitat del VANT. En aquest treball abordem aquest problema introduint Arducopter Simulator (ArduSim), una nova plataforma de simulació que permet controlar en temps real el vol i la comunicació entre múltiples VANTs, permetent portar els protocols desenvolupats a dispositius reals amb facilitat. A més, ArduSim inclou un model realista d'un enllaç de comunicacions WiFi entre VANTs, que està basat en el resultat obtingut d'experiments amb VANTs reals. La possibilitat que dues VANTs s'aproximen entre si durant el vol s'incrementa a mesura que hi ha més aeronaus d'aquest tipus solcant els cels, introduint perill per possibles col·lisions. Per això, aquesta tesi proposa Mission Based Collision Avoidance Protocol (MBCAP), un nou protocol d'evitació de col·lisions per a VANTs aplicable a tota mena de multicòpters mentre volen autònomament. MBCAP utilitza comunicacions sense fils per a detectar VANTs pròxims i per a negociar el procés d'evitació de la col·lisió. Els resultats de simulacions i experiments reals demostren la validesa i efectivitat de la solució proposada, que introdueix un xicotet augment del temps de vol de entre 15 i 42 segons per cada situació de risc correctament resolta. La solució anterior està orientada a VANTs que realitzen vols independents, però també poden formar un eixam, on cal complir més restriccions per a evitar que col·lisionen entre si, i perquè completen la tasca de forma eficient. Desplegar un eixam de VANTs en comptes d'un només proporciona beneficis addicionals quan, per exemple, la necessitat de càrrega excedeix la capacitat d'elevació d'un únic VANT, o quan en desplegar diversos VANTs simultàniament s'accelera la missió i es cobreix una àrea major. Amb aquesta finalitat, en aquest treball presentem el protocol Mission-based UAV Swarm Coordination Protocol (MUSCOP), una solució que permet a diversos VANTs coordinar perfectament el vol mentre realitzen missions planificades. Els resultats experimentals mostren que el protocol proposat permet a l'eixam aconseguir un grau de cohesió elevat independentment de la formació de vol adoptada, i fins i tot en presència d'un canal de comunicació amb moltes pèrdues, aconseguint retards en la sincronització insignificants i desfasaments mínims en la posició respecte al cas ideal. Actualment hi ha altres escenaris, com les operacions de cerca i rescat, on el desplegament d'eixams de VANTs guiats manualment pot ser necessari. En aquests casos, les ordres del pilot són desconegudes a priori (impredictibles), el que significa que els VANTs han de respondre pràcticament en temps real als moviments del VANT líder per a mantindre la consistència de l'eixam. Per això, en aquesta tesi proposem el protocol FollowMe per a la coordinació de VANTs en un eixam on el líder és controlat per un pilot, i la resta de VANTs ho segueixen en temps real per a mantindre la cohesió de l'eixam. Les simulacions mostren la validesa del protocol de coordinació d'eixams proposat, detallant els límits de la solució, i definint la distància mínima entre VANTs per a evitar col·lisions.Fabra Collado, FJ. (2020). Flight coordination solutions for multirotor unmanned aerial vehicles [Tesis doctoral no publicada]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/147857TESI

On the Road to 6G: Visions, Requirements, Key Technologies and Testbeds

Fifth generation (5G) mobile communication systems have entered the stage of commercial development, providing users with new services and improved user experiences as well as offering a host of novel opportunities to various industries. However, 5G still faces many challenges. To address these challenges, international industrial, academic, and standards organizations have commenced research on sixth generation (6G) wireless communication systems. A series of white papers and survey papers have been published, which aim to define 6G in terms of requirements, application scenarios, key technologies, etc. Although ITU-R has been working on the 6G vision and it is expected to reach a consensus on what 6G will be by mid-2023, the related global discussions are still wide open and the existing literature has identified numerous open issues. This paper first provides a comprehensive portrayal of the 6G vision, technical requirements, and application scenarios, covering the current common understanding of 6G. Then, a critical appraisal of the 6G network architecture and key technologies is presented. Furthermore, existing testbeds and advanced 6G verification platforms are detailed for the first time. In addition, future research directions and open challenges are identified for stimulating the on-going global debate. Finally, lessons learned to date concerning 6G networks are discussed

Research and Creative Activity, July 1, 2020-June 30, 2021: Major Sponsored Programs and Faculty Accomplishments in Research and Creative Activity, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Foreword by Bob Wilhelm, Vice Chancellor for Research and Economic Development, University of Nebraska-Lincoln: This booklet highlights successes in research, scholarship and creative activity by University of Nebraska–Lincoln faculty during the fiscal year running July 1, 2020, to June 30, 2021. It lists investigators, project titles and funding sources on major grants and sponsored awards received during the year; fellowships and other recognitions and honors bestowed on our faculty; books and chapters published by faculty; performances, exhibitions and other examples of creative activity; patents and licensing agreements issued; National Science Foundation I-CORPS teams; and peer-reviewed journal articles and conference presentations. In recognition of the important role faculty have in the undergraduate experience at Nebraska, this booklet notes the students and mentors participating in the Undergraduate Creative Activities and Research Experience (UCARE) and the First-Year Research Experience (FYRE) programs. While metrics cannot convey the full impact of our work, they are tangible measures of growth. A few achievements of note: • UNL achieved a record $320 million in total research expenditures in FY 2020, a 43• Our faculty earned 1,508 sponsored research awards in FY 2020. University-sponsored industry activity also spurred economic growth for Nebraska. • Nebraska Innovation Campus created 1,948 jobs statewide and had a total economic impact of$372 million. • Industry sponsorship supported $19.2 million in research expenditures. • NUtech Ventures brought in$6.48 million in licensing income. I applaud the Nebraska Research community for its determination and commitment during a challenging year. Your hard work has made it possible for our momentum to continue growing. Our university is poised for even greater success. The Grand Challenges initiative provides a framework for developing bold ideas to solve society’s greatest issues, which is how we will have the greatest impact as an institution. Please visit research.unl.edu/grandchallenges to learn more. We’re also renewing our campus commitment to a journey of anti-racism and racial equity, which is among the most important work we’ll do. I am pleased to present this record of accomplishments. Contents Awards of $5 Million or More Awards of$1 Million to $4,999,999 Awards of$250,000 to $999,999 50 Early Career Awards Arts and Humanities Awards of$250,000 or More Arts and Humanities Awards of $50,000 to$249,999 Arts and Humanities Awards of $5,000 to$49,999 Patents License Agreements National Science Foundation Innovation Corps Teams Creative Activity Books Recognitions and Honors Journal Articles 105 Conference Presentations UCARE and FYRE Projects Glossar

Terahertz Communications and Sensing for 6G and Beyond: A Comprehensive View

The next-generation wireless technologies, commonly referred to as the sixth generation (6G), are envisioned to support extreme communications capacity and in particular disruption in the network sensing capabilities. The terahertz (THz) band is one potential enabler for those due to the enormous unused frequency bands and the high spatial resolution enabled by both short wavelengths and bandwidths. Different from earlier surveys, this paper presents a comprehensive treatment and technology survey on THz communications and sensing in terms of the advantages, applications, propagation characterization, channel modeling, measurement campaigns, antennas, transceiver devices, beamforming, networking, the integration of communications and sensing, and experimental testbeds. Starting from the motivation and use cases, we survey the development and historical perspective of THz communications and sensing with the anticipated 6G requirements. We explore the radio propagation, channel modeling, and measurements for THz band. The transceiver requirements, architectures, technological challenges, and approaches together with means to compensate for the high propagation losses by appropriate antenna and beamforming solutions. We survey also several system technologies required by or beneficial for THz systems. The synergistic design of sensing and communications is explored with depth. Practical trials, demonstrations, and experiments are also summarized. The paper gives a holistic view of the current state of the art and highlights the issues and challenges that are open for further research towards 6G.Comment: 55 pages, 10 figures, 8 tables, submitted to IEEE Communications Surveys & Tutorial

Natural and Technological Hazards in Urban Areas

Natural hazard events and technological accidents are separate causes of environmental impacts. Natural hazards are physical phenomena active in geological times, whereas technological hazards result from actions or facilities created by humans. In our time, combined natural and man-made hazards have been induced. Overpopulation and urban development in areas prone to natural hazards increase the impact of natural disasters worldwide. Additionally, urban areas are frequently characterized by intense industrial activity and rapid, poorly planned growth that threatens the environment and degrades the quality of life. Therefore, proper urban planning is crucial to minimize fatalities and reduce the environmental and economic impacts that accompany both natural and technological hazardous events

Advances in Reinforcement Learning

Reinforcement Learning (RL) is a very dynamic area in terms of theory and application. This book brings together many different aspects of the current research on several fields associated to RL which has been growing rapidly, producing a wide variety of learning algorithms for different applications. Based on 24 Chapters, it covers a very broad variety of topics in RL and their application in autonomous systems. A set of chapters in this book provide a general overview of RL while other chapters focus mostly on the applications of RL paradigms: Game Theory, Multi-Agent Theory, Robotic, Networking Technologies, Vehicular Navigation, Medicine and Industrial Logistic

Intelligent Circuits and Systems

ICICS-2020 is the third conference initiated by the School of Electronics and Electrical Engineering at Lovely Professional University that explored recent innovations of researchers working for the development of smart and green technologies in the fields of Energy, Electronics, Communications, Computers, and Control. ICICS provides innovators to identify new opportunities for the social and economic benefits of society.　 This conference bridges the gap between academics and R&D institutions, social visionaries, and experts from all strata of society to present their ongoing research activities and foster research relations between them. It provides opportunities for the exchange of new ideas, applications, and experiences in the field of smart technologies and finding global partners for future collaboration. The ICICS-2020 was conducted in two broad categories, Intelligent Circuits & Intelligent Systems and Emerging Technologies in Electrical Engineering

Practicing Sovereignty: Digital Involvement in Times of Crises

Digital sovereignty has become a hotly debated concept. The current convergence of multiple crises adds fuel to this debate, as it contextualizes the concept in a foundational discussion of democratic principles, civil rights, and national identities: is (technological) self-determination an option for every individual to cope with the digital sphere effectively? Can disruptive events provide chances to rethink our ideas of society - including the design of the objects and processes which constitute our techno-social realities? The positions assembled in this volume analyze opportunities for participation and policy-making, and describe alternative technological practices before and after the pandemic

Practicing Sovereignty

Digital sovereignty has become a hotly debated concept. The current convergence of multiple crises adds fuel to this debate, as it contextualizes the concept in a foundational discussion of democratic principles, civil rights, and national identities: is (technological) self-determination an option for every individual to cope with the digital sphere effectively? Can disruptive events provide chances to rethink our ideas of society - including the design of the objects and processes which constitute our techno-social realities? The positions assembled in this volume analyze opportunities for participation and policy-making, and describe alternative technological practices before and after the pandemic