A WSSL Implementation for Critical Cyber-Physical Systems Applications

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Authors:

Marcia Cunha Rocha, Enio Prates Vasconcelos Filho, Eduardo Tovar, Pedro Miguel Santos, Sergio Duarte Penna and Fernando Baptista Alves

Keywords:

Abstract:

"The advancements in wireless communication technologies have enabled unprecedented pervasiveness and ubiquity of Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS). Such technologies can now empower true Systems-of-Systems, which cooperate to achieve more complex and efficient functionalities. However, for CPS applications to become a reality, safety and security must be guaranteed, particularly in critical systems, since they rely on open communication systems prone to intentional and non-intentional interferences. We propose designing a Wireless Safety and Security Layer (WSSL) architecture to be implemented in critical CPS applications to address these issues. The WSSL increases the reliability of these critical communications by enabling the detection of communication errors. Otherwise, it increases the CPS security using a message signature process that uniquely identifies the sender. So, we present the WSSL architecture and its implementation over an MQTT protocol. We prove that the WSSL does not significantly increase the system payload and demonstrate its safety and security resources, allowing it to be used in any general or critical CPS."