What is it about?
This article discusses how to safely and securely integrate robots into everyday life, workplaces, and industries, especially given the growing complexity and risks of cyber threats. It highlights the importance of designing robots that are not just physically safe, but also resistant to cybersecurity attacks, ensuring they behave predictably and reliably. The paper outlines strategies and methods to identify, assess, and manage potential vulnerabilities in robotic systems, combining expertise from cybersecurity, engineering, and robotics. Ultimately, the goal is to build trust in robotic technology by clearly defining how robots should operate securely alongside humans, protecting people, data, and systems from potential harm.
Featured Image
Photo by ZHENYU LUO on Unsplash
Why is it important?
This work is important because robots are increasingly becoming part of our daily lives, performing critical tasks in healthcare, manufacturing, transportation, and even home environments. As robots become more advanced and interconnected, they're also more vulnerable to cyberattacks, which could compromise their safety, functionality, or even cause harm to humans and infrastructure. By addressing these vulnerabilities proactively, the paper aims to ensure that robots are reliable, trustworthy, and safe to use. Ensuring robotic security is crucial to protect society from potential physical dangers, economic losses, and privacy breaches, helping us fully benefit from robotic technologies without compromising safety or security.
Perspectives
From my perspective as an author, the integration of robots into our lives represents an exciting leap forward, but one that comes with significant responsibilities. Having researched extensively in this field, I see firsthand how overlooking cybersecurity in robotics could have serious consequences, including real physical risks to people. This research is driven by my conviction that trust in robotic systems can only be built if we proactively address these security challenges from the ground up. I believe that through careful, interdisciplinary collaboration, we can design robots that genuinely benefit society, making everyday tasks safer and easier, while safeguarding our privacy and security.
Adam Haskard
University of Canberra
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Secure Robotics: Navigating Challenges at the Nexus of Safety, Trust, and Cybersecurity in Cyber-Physical Systems, ACM Computing Surveys, April 2025, ACM (Association for Computing Machinery),
DOI: 10.1145/3723050.
You can read the full text:
Contributors
The following have contributed to this page
