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Cybersecurity Threats in Military Robotic and Autonomous Systems

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Robot 2023: Sixth Iberian Robotics Conference (ROBOT 2023)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems ((LNNS,volume 978))

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Abstract

The Russia-Ukraine war emphasised how digital technology and the information domain increasingly integrate into modern battlefields. The military strategy began using Robotic and Autonomous Systems (RASs) to enhance tactical and strategic advantages over conventional weaponry and kinetic military action. Evolution in these circumstances increased dependence on cyberspace, algorithms, automation, and robots, creating new opportunities and challenges. Using military RASs in physical warfare can provide relevant operational advantages and open new vulnerabilities, increasing a system attack surface. This research examines military RAS cybersecurity threats, potential vulnerabilities affecting the attack surface, and the importance of responsible and precise technical innovation. It is concluded that technological innovation in these systems must comply with cyber and broad security by design principles, military needs, and the rules of war. Military and political leaders must make educated decisions to maximise gains and minimise risks from complex combat technologies, with the military leadership promoting the revision of doctrine to accommodate new technologies on the battlefield.

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Acknowledgments

This work was partially supported by the European Defence Fund (EDF) through project ACTING – Advanced European platform and network of Cybersecurity training and exercises centres (101103208 – ACTING – EDF – 2021 – CYBER).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro de Investigação, Desenvolvimento e Inovação da Academia Militar, Academia Militar, Instituto Universitário Militar e Universidade Europeia, Lisbon, Portugal

    José Borges

  2. Desenvolvimento e Inovação da Academia Militar, Universidade Europeia e Centro de Investigação, Academia Militar, Instituto Universitário Militar, Lisbon, Portugal

    David Pascoal Rosado

Authors
  1. José Borges
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  2. David Pascoal Rosado
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to José Borges .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dep. de Eng. Electrotecnica e de Computadores, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal

    Lino Marques

  2. Department of Electrónica Industrial, University of Minho, Escola de Engenharia, Guimarães, Portugal

    Cristina Santos

  3. Department of Electrical Engineering, ESTIG, Polytechnic Institute of Bragança, Bragança, Portugal

    José Luís Lima

  4. Centro Universitario de la Defensa, Zaragoza, Spain

    Danilo Tardioli

  5. Centre for Automation and Robotics UPM-CSIC, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, Spain

    Manuel Ferre

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Borges, J., Rosado, D.P. (2024). Cybersecurity Threats in Military Robotic and Autonomous Systems. In: Marques, L., Santos, C., Lima, J.L., Tardioli, D., Ferre, M. (eds) Robot 2023: Sixth Iberian Robotics Conference. ROBOT 2023. Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems, vol 978. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-59167-9_20

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