Security framework for industrial collaborative robotic cyber-physical systems

The paper introduces a security framework for the application of human-robot collaboration in a futuristic industrial cyber-physical system (CPS) context of industry 4.0. The basic elements and functional requirements of a secure collaborative robotic cyber-physical system are explained and then the cyber-attack modes are discussed in the context of collaborative CPS whereas a defense mechanism strategy is proposed for such a complex system. The cyber-attacks are categorized according to the extent on controllability and the possible effects on the performance and efficiency of such CPS. The paper also describes the severity and categorization of such cyber-attacks and the causal effect on the human worker safety during human-robot collaboration. Attacks in three dimensions of availability, authentication and confidentiality are proposed as the basis of a consolidated mitigation plan. We propose a security framework based on a two-pronged strategy where the impact of this methodology is demonstrated on a teleoperation benchmark (NeCS-Car). The mitigation strategy includes enhanced data security at important interconnected adaptor nodes and development of an intelligent module that employs a concept similar to system health monitoring and reconfiguration

TOWARDS FOURTH-PARTY LOGISTICS PROVIDERS A Business Model for Cloud-Based Autonomous Logistics

Abstract: Cloud computing denotes a paradigm shift in computing that enables a flexible allocation of hardware and software resources on demand. Therewith, it is particularly appealing for applications with a high degree of computational complexity and dynamics. This paper identifies logistics planning and control as a promising application for clouds. However, two prerequisites must be met for cloud-based logistics control. Firstly, the platform-as-a-service layer must provide a synchronisation of the physically distributed real-world material flows and the data flows in the cloud. Secondly, appropriate and scalable control software must be implemented on the software-as-a-service layer. Apart from outlining the technical foundations, this paper describes how both steps enable a business model that is usually referred to as fourth-party logistics

Heuristic-based programable controller for efficient energy management under renewable energy sources and energy storage system in smart grid

An operative and versatile household energy management system is proposed to develop and implement demand response (DR) projects. These are under the hybrid generation of the energy storage system (ESS), photovoltaic (PV), and electric vehicles (EVs) in the smart grid (SG). Existing household energy management systems cannot offer its users a choice to ensure user comfort (UC) and not provide a sustainable solution in terms of reduced carbon emission. To tackle these problems, this research work proposes a heuristic-based programmable energy management controller (HPEMC) to manage the energy consumption in residential buildings to minimize electricity bills, reduce carbon emissions, maximize UC and reduce the peak-to-average ratio (PAR). We used our proposed hybrid genetic particle swarm optimization (HGPO) algorithm and existing algorithms like a genetic algorithm (GA), binary particle swarm optimization algorithm (BPSO), ant colony optimization (ACO), wind-driven optimization algorithm (WDO), bacterial foraging algorithm (BFA) to schedule smart appliances optimally to attain our desired objectives. In the proposed model, consumers use solar panels to produce their energy from microgrids. We also perform MATLAB simulations to validate our proposed HGPO-HPEMC (HHPEMC), and results confirm the efficiency and productivity of our proposed HPEMC based strategy. The proposed algorithm reduced the electricity cost by 25.55%, PAR by 36.98%, and carbon emission by 24.02% as compared to the case of without scheduling

Understanding vulnerabilities in cyber physical production systems

Development of future manufacturing systems is featured with flexibility, mass customization, intelligence and context based learning to produce smart products. These production systems are characterized through networked, cooperating objects called cyber physical systems (CPSs). From the manufacturing perspective, the ability to communicate data and develop interaction between devices, manufacturing machinery, raw materials, working robots, humans and the plant environment develops the concept of cyber physical production systems (CPPS). Human-robot collaboration is a technology area that will be an integrated part of the future factory floor and the CPPS. With the involvement of human part in the automated system industrial scenarios, practical safety issues are expected to arise in the connected environment due to the use of a large number of devices, sensors, and cloud services causing complex network, IP conflicts, compromised nodes and communication issues. This all may lead to occupational safety issues on the factory floor in different ways and combinations. Overall, the system's physical vulnerability will be increased in the context of compromised connected working space and cyber-security. In this paper, the authors developed a risk assessment based on system vulnerability of a CPPS developed for a use case requirement and performed a simulated approach by launching a cyber-attack and measuring the causal effect to identify implications on human worker safety

Reducing conservatism in highest density environmental contours

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Elsevier via the DOI in this record.The analysis of the example presented in section 3 can be reproduced by running the MATLAB file Example1.m that is available at the GitHub repository https://github.com/ahaselsteiner/2020-paper-contour-conservatism.Environmental contours are often used to define design loads acting on a marine structure. An environmental contour describes joint extremes of variables such as wave height, wave period and wind speed that are exceeded with a target return period. These extreme environmental conditions should lead to a structural response with a similar return period. Environmental contours can be defined based on different probabilistic definitions, one of them being that a contour surrounds a so-called highest density region. Highest density contours are a conservative concept that implies that any structure that is designed based on it will have an extreme response that has a return period that is higher than the contour’s return period (when short-term variability is accounted for). For some structures, however, the design loads are overly conservative because in the contour construction phase also environmental conditions, which will clearly not lead to an extreme response, are counted as exceedance. Here, we show how this over-conservatism can be avoided by predefining a region in the variable space that will not lead to extreme loads. We give an example where we define such “mild regions” for sea state contours. By assuming a structural response, we explore the effect of mild regions on the estimated extreme response. In the presented example, a normal highest density contour leads to a design response that is 13% too conservative, while a contour that is adjusted using a reasonable mild region can reduce conservatism to 7%.Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC

A Semantic Mediator for Data Integration in Autonomous Logistics Processes

Autonomous control in logistic systems is characterized by the ability of logistic objects to process information, to render and to execute decisions on their own. This paper investigates whether the concept of the semantic mediator is applicable to the data integration problems arising from an application scenario of autonomous control in the transport logistics sector. Initially, characteristics of autonomous logistics processes are presented, highlighting the need for decentral data storage in such a paradigma. Subsequently, approaches towards data integration are examined. An application scenario exemplifying autonomous control in the field of transport logistics is presented and analysed, on the basis of which a concept, technical architecture and prototypical implementation of a semantic mediator is developed and described. A critical appraisal of the semantic mediator in the context of autonomous logistics processes concludes the paper, along with an outlook towards ongoing and future work