Encrypted control for networked systems -- An illustrative introduction and current challenges

Cloud computing and distributed computing are becoming ubiquitous in many modern control systems such as smart grids, building automation, robot swarms or intelligent transportation systems. Compared to "isolated" control systems, the advantages of cloud-based and distributed control systems are, in particular, resource pooling and outsourcing, rapid scalability, and high performance. However, these capabilities do not come without risks. In fact, the involved communication and processing of sensitive data via public networks and on third-party platforms promote, among other cyberthreats, eavesdropping and manipulation of data. Encrypted control addresses this security gap and provides confidentiality of the processed data in the entire control loop. This paper presents a tutorial-style introduction to this young but emerging field in the framework of secure control for networked dynamical systems.Comment: The paper is a preprint of an accepted paper in the IEEE Control Systems Magazin

Encrypted Control for Networked Systems: An Illustrative Introduction and Current Challenges

This article presents a tutorial-style introduction to the emerging field of control for networked systems in the framework of secure control for networked dynamical systems with encrypted data. Its focus is on the steps for deriving the encrypted formulations of some specific control algorithms from the standard formulations and discussing the challenges arising in this process, ranging from privacy-aware conceptualizations to changes in computation flows and quantization issues. A list of open problems and new directions to explore is provided to consolidate the area of encrypted control.</p