AI summaryⓘ
The authors discuss how traditional methods of handling faults in cyber-physical systems (CPSs) usually focus on detecting obvious problems in sensors and devices, but these methods aren't good at spotting subtle cyberattacks. They point out that in embodied CPSs, which rely on both digital and physical parts working together, it's important to protect the system's physical structure proactively. To address this, the authors propose a new formal framework that uses information from intrusion detection systems (IDS) to better evaluate how well the system can handle disruptions from attacks. Their framework helps understand when and how to respond to cyberattacks to keep the system working and physically safe.
cyber-physical systemsfault tolerancecyberattacksintrusion detection systemembodiment preservationresiliencedependabilityproactive responsemitigation strategies
Abstract
In cyber-physical systems (CPSs), fault tolerance is traditionally achieved by analysing sensor and actuator outputs, detecting progressive drift or sudden failures, and initiating suitable tolerance mechanisms. Reasonable under general failure models, this approach fails to capture nuanced disruptions caused by cyberattacks, which may employ subtle strategies. This is particularly critical in embodied CPSs, where computational and physical devices not only have an active role in task completion, but also in embodiment preservation (that is, maintaining the system's physical integrity). To prevent structural physical damage, embodied CPSs require a framework that enables proactive response to cyberattacks. This paper proposes a formal dependability framework that incorporates IDS information into resilience evaluation predicates, enabling assessment of tolerance to disruption and degradation. The framework supports structured reasoning about how cyberattacks affect task execution and embodiment preservation, and whether mitigation strategies must be deployed. Analytical examples demonstrate its analytical capability and soundness, establishing a theoretical foundation for dependable and secure embodied CPSs.