A survey on securing UAS cyber physical systems

An Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Flight Control System (FCS) is an example of a Cyber Physical System (CPS), in that it integrates computation, networking, and the control of a physical system, i.e., the aircraft. An FCS contains a Central Processing Unit (CPU), typically in the form of a microcontroller, referred to as the autopilot, connected to many subsystems to measure its environment, including accelerations, angular rates, dynamic and absolute pressures, and position. The autopilot periodically extracts data from the on-board sensors and processes those using navigational algorithms. The results of these computations are used to position actuators connected to the control surfaces of the UASs, causing it to fly in a correct way to perform the required mission. This process is performed in real-time, typically at the rate of 50 Hz or more. Any interruption or corruption of this process can cause the UAS to fail to perform its mission, or ultimately crash and be destroyed. This can result in significant loss of property, or even loss of life. A security compromised UAS can pose a serious threat, and the security vulnerabilities in their control system need to be minimized, if not completely eliminated [1].