Physical-Layer Security for Industrial Wireless Control Systems: Basics and Future Directions

Wireless networks for industrial control systems are promising because of their reduced cost, flexible structure, and improved long-term reliability. However, wireless control systems are vulnerable to probing-free attacks (PFAs), which are not possible in wired control systems. Thus, wireless control systems must be made as secure as wired systems. Physical (PHY)-layer security technology (PHY-Sec) may be a new strategy for securing industrial wireless control systems. Among all PHY-Sec technologies, PHY-layer authentication is the first step for PHYSec in industrial wireless control systems. This article discusses the principles of PHY-Sec, its application to wireless control systems, and potential research directions.