Encrypted control for networked systems -- An illustrative introduction and current challenges
It provides a tutorial introduction to encrypted control for networked systems, targeting researchers and practitioners in fields like smart grids and robotics, but is incremental as it focuses on summarizing current challenges rather than presenting new methods.
The paper addresses security risks in cloud-based and distributed control systems, such as eavesdropping and data manipulation, by introducing encrypted control to ensure data confidentiality throughout the control loop.
Cloud computing and distributed computing are becoming ubiquitous in many modern control systems such as smart grids, building automation, robot swarms or intelligent transportation systems. Compared to "isolated" control systems, the advantages of cloud-based and distributed control systems are, in particular, resource pooling and outsourcing, rapid scalability, and high performance. However, these capabilities do not come without risks. In fact, the involved communication and processing of sensitive data via public networks and on third-party platforms promote, among other cyberthreats, eavesdropping and manipulation of data. Encrypted control addresses this security gap and provides confidentiality of the processed data in the entire control loop. This paper presents a tutorial-style introduction to this young but emerging field in the framework of secure control for networked dynamical systems.