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At least 145 records · Page 8

Cyber-Resilient Automatic Generation Control for Systems of AC Microgrids

In this paper we propose a co-design of the secondary frequency regulation in systems of AC microgrids and its cyber security solutions. We term the secondary frequency regulator a Micro-Automatic Generation Control (μ AGC) for highlighting its same functionality as the AGC in bulk power systems. We identify sensory challenges and cyber threats facing the μ AGC. To address the sensory challenges, we introduce a new microgrid model by exploiting the rank-one deficiency property of microgrid dynamics. This model is used to pose an optimal μ AGC control problem that is easily implemented, because it does not require fast frequency measurements. An end-to-end cyber security solution to the False Data Injection (FDI) attack detection and mitigation is developed for the proposed μ AGC. The front-end barrier of applying off-the-shelf algorithms for cyber attack detection is removed by introducing a data-driven modeling approach. Finally, we propose an observer-based corrective control for an islanded microgrid and a collaborative mitigation scheme in systems of AC microgrids. We demonstrate a collaborative role of systems of microgrids during cyber attacks. Furthermore, the performance of the proposed cyber-resilient μ AGC is tested in a system of two networked microgrids.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

CONGO²: Scalable Online Anomaly Detection and Localization in Power Electronics Networks

Rapid and accurate detection and localization of electronic disturbances simultaneously are important for preventing its potential damages and determining potential remedies. Existing anomaly detection methods are severely limited by the low accuracy, the expensive computational cost and the need for highly trained personnel. There is an urgent need for a scalable online algorithm for in-field analysis of large-scale power electronics networks. Here in this paper, we propose a fast and accurate algorithm for anomaly detection and localization of power electronics networks: stratified colored-node graph (CONGO2). This algorithm hierarchically models the change of correlated waveforms and then correlated sensors using the colored-node graph. By aggregating the change of each sensor with its neighbors’ inputs, we can spontaneously identify and localize the anomaly that cannot be detected by data collected from a single sensor. As our proposed method only focuses on the changes within a short time frame, it is highly computational efficient and only needs small data storage. Thus, our method is ideal for online and reliable anomaly detection and localization of large-scale power electronic networks. Compared to existing anomaly detection methods, our method is entirely data-driven without training data, highly accurate and reliable for wide-spectrum anomalies detection, and more importantly, capable of both detection and localization. Thus, it is ideal for infield deployment for large-scale power electronic networks. As illustrated by a distributed energy resources (DERs) power grid with 37-node, our method can effectively detect and localize various cyber and physical attacks.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Cyber-Attack Identification of Synchrophasor Data Via VMD and Multifusion SVM

A large amount of synchrophasor data in the wide area measurement system (WAMS) needs to be collected and transmitted to the phasor data concentrator, thereby increasing the possibility of being attacked by hackers. The attacked data are therefore hidden into the normal synchrophasor data so that the synchrophasor data based application will be affected. To remedy this problem, an identification framework is proposed to detect the data cyber-attack in WAMS utilizing variational mode decomposition (VMD) and multifusion support vector machine (MSVM). First, VMD is used to transform the attacked data into multiple modal components. Thereafter, a novel MSVM is employed to classify the deterministic features using the proposed linear combined multikernel (LCM). Further, this LCM can fuse multiple types of features, including the time, frequency, and statistical domains of the synchrophasor data. Utilizing the actual data from FNET/GridEye, different experiments are conducted under multiple attack strengths and types. The results demonstrate that the identification framework has higher precision and robustness compared with other conventional classifiers.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Cyber-Physical Event Emulation-Based Transmission-and-Distribution Co-Simulation for Situational Awareness of Grid Anomalies (SAGA)

Energy management of transmission and distribution networks (T&D) is becoming more challenging with the accelerated adoption of distributed energy resources (DERs)-such as distributed photovoltaic generation and battery energy storage systems (BESS)-on the electric grid. To better analyze the impacts of DERs on both transmission and distribution systems, a comprehensive T&D co-simulation platform is developed. Further, with DERs more actively participating in system operation-e.g., by providing real-time grid services-their cyber vulnerability needs to be better understood to maintain system reliability. This paper discusses a cyber-physical events emulation-based T&D co-simulation platform to perform comprehensive cyber events emulations, physical simulation, and analysis of interdependent impacts. Results from the case studies-which show how cyber events on a synthetic distribution network can impact operations on the transmission and distribution network-validate that the proposed T&D cosimulation platform can perform cyber-physical events emulation and produce response in near realtime; therefore, with extensive simulation using the proposed co-simulation platform, the system operators can accumulate adequate training data for system situational awareness of grid anomalies.

anomalies detection↗

Security Enhancement of Network Constraint Grid-Edge Energy Management System

Network constrained grid edge energy management system (EMS) provides economic solution for active and reactive power dispatch of distributed energy resources (DERs) at the grid edge level. Grid edge EMS ensures secure interconnection of a circuit segment to the distribution system by maintaining grid code requirements (e.g. IEEE 1547–2018). Grid edge EMS is dependent on communication to receive load measurement, which brings a risk of unobservable false data injection attacks (FDIAs). To mitigate the risk, this paper proposes a framework to enhance resilient operation of grid edge EMS by detecting the unobservable FDIAs on loads and replacing them with forecasted values. In this work, a two-step detection algorithm is proposed. In first step, conventional residual based algorithm is deployed. Autoencoder (AE) based data driven mechanism is included in second step to detect the presence of unobservable FDIAs. After ensuring the presence of FDIA, its specific location is detected by checking the maximum residue values till the predefined threshold value is reached. Detected false data injected loads are then replaced with forecasted load values following long-short term memory (LSTM) based forecast to ensure resilient performance of grid edge EMS in the presence of attacks. This proposed security enhancement framework for grid edge EMS is evaluated in IEEE 13 bus system with three integrated DERs. Numerical simulation shows the validation of the proposed framework by reducing voltage violation in real operation of grid edge EMS.

cyber attack detection↗

Mitigate: An Adaptive Network Data Anonymization Tool Using Condensation-Based Differential Privacy

Modern network devices collect a large amount of data that can be analyzed to identify bottlenecks, anomalies, cyber-attacks, etc. Therefore, there is often a need to analyze such collections of network data quite often by an external expert or by the research community. However, these collections of data contain sensitive, proprietary information. In order for the network data to be shared, it must first be anonymized. The overall objective of this project is to develop an innovative privacy management tool to anonymize network data and achieve sufficient privacy, acceptable data utility, and efficient data analysis at the same time. No existing anonymization methods can achieve all of these at the same time. The core of this technology is a differential private clustering algorithm that provides strong privacy protection, preserves data properties important for subsequent analysis, and allows the party receiving the anonymized data to conduct analysis directly on anonymized data without the need of decryption or any extra processing. The research carried out was to design, implement and verify a solution to this problem by completing the following tasks: 1) developing the core technology; 2) developing a context based method that automatically recommends fields that must be anonymized; 3) conducted experiments showing superior results using our approach compared to existing tools, and 4) developed an intuitive but basic user interface. The research that was conducted generated novel algorithmic techniques that utilize state-of-the-art methods such as condensation, differential privacy preservation, clustering, automated tuning based on contextual awareness, and recommendation techniques to specify columns to users for anonymization leading to optimal privacy that allows research analysis on the dataset. Experiments were conducted to evaluate the efficacy of these novel algorithmic techniques by performing analysis on original non-anonymized datasets, then conducting analysis on the same yet anonymized datasets and comparing the results of the analyses. Overall, the anonymized analysis results were within 1% of the original results, verifying that the generated technology not only guarantees a high level of privacy but also enables research analysis as if it were conducted on the original dataset. Potential applications of this technology include anonymization of any type of structured network datasets that contain sensitive identifiers, such as IP addresses, that can be used in multiple applications. For example, to create an AI or machine learning model for cyber security, e.g., to detect attacks, or for performance analysis, e.g., identify bottlenecks or predict performance. In addition, a market analysis that was conducted for potential applications of this technology identified a broader range of applications of our anonymization technology beyond the network sector that includes healthcare, banking, insurance, securities, finance (FISB), data brokering, cloud services, ad sales, and government.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Sequential Perturbation-based FDIA Detection using DERs for Unbalanced Distribution System

The power distribution system with its reliance on automated monitoring and control infrastructure makes it a complicated cyber-physical system and vulnerable to various cyber-attacks. This paper proposes a moving target defense inspired false data injection attack (FDIA) detection mechanism for an unbalanced distribution system. In the proposed grid diagnosis service framework, the distribution system operator judiciously manipulates power outputs of a subset of inverter-based distribution energy resources (DERs) to create secret low magnitude voltage perturbations which are inconsequential to the normal operation of the grid. A mixed-integer-linear-programming algorithm is developed to select the optimal set of DERs that can create a voltage perturbation signal of the required magnitude at each sensor location at a minimum cost. Then, a sequential detector is applied that detects for the FDIA as measurements are received from individual sensors. The performance of the proposed perturbation-based FDIA detection framework is demonstrated via simulation of the IEEE 123 bus test system.

Attack Detection↗

Designing resilient IoT and Edge Computing with federated tinyML

The rapid growth of the Internet of Things (IoT) and Edge Computing (EC) has brought significant conveniences to modern society but has also greatly expanded the cyber attack surfaces, particularly as these technologies are being increasingly integrated into critical systems such as power grids, healthcare, and smart homes. Here, to improve IoT/EC’s cybersecurity posture, we leveraged Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) by employing tinyML to monitor voluminous IoT data for cyber threats while addressing devices’ resource constraints, and utilizing Federated Learning (FL) to share local detection knowledge across the system while preserving privacy. Building on our three-layer architecture combining tinyML and FL to enhance autonomous cyber attack detection, this paper demonstrated that the architecture improves detection accuracy, reduces resource consumption, and enables lightweight, secure IoT device monitoring. These results were validated using the public N-BaIoT dataset as well as real IoT network traffic data collected under multiple attack scenarios from our testbeds. Additionally, we introduced an enhanced FL methodology with a novel preprocessing stage, including federated feature selection and global preprocessor construction, to address IoT/EC data heterogeneity. We developed a physical IoT testbed for attack simulations and data collection, implemented a tinyML-powered detector for realistic model validation, and also built a virtual testbed for scalable evaluations of FL models across diverse network environments.

Cognitive cyber↗

Designing an Intrusion Detection for an Adjustable Speed Drive System Controlling a Critical Process

In this article, we address the cyber-security problem of industrial control systems (ICSs) when their sensor measurements may be compromised due to an attacker who has intercepted those measurements via a network. We introduce a general-purpose method “Dynamic Watermarking (DW)” to detect potential cyber-intrusions on speed sensor measurements within industrial control systems, which deploy an adjustable speed drive (ASD) to control a critical process. The DW method is injecting a random private low-amplitude signal with a zero mean Gaussian distribution, “watermark”, into one of the input phase voltages powering the ASD system. The watermark signal propagates through the system including pulse width modulation (PWM) power conversion stage and motor, then ultimately appears in the speed sensor measurements. By deploying two statistical DW tests with two proper thresholds, the system can detect potential cyber-intrusions or unobservable cyber-attacks such as replay attacks and false data injection attacks (FDIA). The DW method tested on a laboratory-scale ASD system experimentally to protect the system against cyber-intrusions. This system, powered by a commercial PWM drive operating at 208 V, 3-phase, and 3.7 kW, served as our experimental platform.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Adaptive Cyber-Physical Resilience for Building Control Systems

The main goal of the project is to develop an AI-based process layer cybersecurity suite for detection, isolation and mitigation of cyber-attack effects on operation of building energy management systems (BEMS). The following constituent key technologies were developed under the program towards fulfilling the program objectives: (1) developed a high fidelity BEMS testbed for generation of training data and validation of developed technologies; (2) developed a physics informed ML based attack detection and localization module (ADL) capable of detecting high impact stealthy attacks (HISA - attacks causing 30% energy utilization but no immediate visible impact otherwise) with 98% accuracy; (3) developed a methodology to determine ’representative days’ to limit the data required for training; (4) developed a virtual sensing system that can reconstruct affected sensors with 10% error for the same HISA set; (5) developed a resilient model predictive control system that can continue operation of the BEMS without jeopardizing stability for the HISA set; and (6) integrated and deployed all the constituent modules and demonstrated the efficacy of the technology in real-time in a hardware in loop simulation.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Time-Based CAN Intrusion Detection Benchmark

Modern vehicles are complex cyber-physical systems made of hundreds of electronic control units (ECUs) that communicate over controller area networks (CANs). This inherited complexity has expanded the CAN attack surface by the injection of malicious messages that vary their time-based characteristics. To detect these malicious messages, time-based intrusion detection systems (IDS) have been proposed. However, time-based IDS are usually trained and tested on low-fidelity datasets with unrealistic labeled attacks. This makes difficult the task of evaluating, comparing, and validating IDS. Here we detail and benchmark four time-based IDS in a dataset with real and advanced attacks. We found that methods with strong assumptions regarding the distribution of inter-arrival times have lower performance than distribution agnostic based methods. In particular, distribution agnostic based methods outperform distribution based methods at least on $55\%$ in area under the precision-recall (AUC-PR) curve. Our results expand the body of knowledge of CAN time-based IDS by providing details of these methods and reporting their results when tested on datasets with real and advanced attacks. We describe limitations, open challenges, and how lessons learnt from this research can inform the design of deployable time-based IDS in modern vehicles.

Blevins, Deborah↗

Edge ML for CAN bus intrusion detection in AVs

Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) are revolutionizing transportation, but their reliance on interconnected cyber-physical systems exposes them to unprecedented cybersecurity risks. This study addresses the critical challenge of detecting real-time cyber intrusions in self-driving vehicles by leveraging a dataset from the Udacity self-driving car project. We simulate four high-impact attack vectors, Denial of Service (DoS), spoofing, replay, and fuzzy attacks, by injecting noise into spatial features (e.g., bounding box coordinates) to replicate adversarial scenarios. We develop and evaluate two lightweight neural network architectures (NN-1 and NN-2) alongside a logistic regression baseline (LG-1) for intrusion detection. The models achieve exceptional performance, with NN-2 attaining an AUC score of 93.15% and 93.15% accuracy, demonstrating their suitability for edge deployment in AV environments. Through explainable AI techniques, we uncover unique forensic fingerprints of each attack type, such as spatial corruption in fuzzy attacks and temporal anomalies in replay attacks, offering actionable insights for feature engineering and proactive defense. Visual analytics, including confusion matrices, ROC curves, and feature importance plots, validate the models' robustness and interpretability. This research sets a new benchmark for AV cybersecurity, delivering a scalable, field-ready toolkit for Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and policymakers. By aligning intrusion fingerprints with SAE J3061 automotive security standards, we provide a pathway for integrating machine learning into safety-critical AV systems. Our findings underscore the urgent need for security-by-design AI, ensuring that AVs not only drive autonomously but also defend autonomously. This work bridges the gap between theoretical cybersecurity and life-preserving engineering, offering a leap toward safer, more secure autonomous transportation.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Cyber State Awareness For Resilience

Characterization of cyber-physical attacks requires a holistic understanding of cyber and physical behavior in a system. Machine Learning Anomaly Detection provides a compelling solution for continuously identifying suspicious behavior within these complex systems. In our software, we present an approach for holistic characterization of cyber-physical systems based on cyber and physical anomaly correlation. The approach consists of three main components: 1) an architecture for real-time data acquisition, management, and analysis of both cyber and physical data; 2) cyber and physical data driven anomaly detection systems (ADSs), 3) a metric that combines cyber and physical ADSs to provide a holistic characterization of the system..

Rieger, CraigG.↗

Cyber Physical Protection for Natural Gas Compression

The secure transport of natural gas through North American pipelines is vital for both home and industrial purposes. GE in collaboration with Baker Hughes and Idaho National Laboratory, completed a US Department of Energy grant program to develop a new cyber-physical protection system that monitors the large compressor stations used to boost pressure and maintain proper gas flow. Algorithms were developed to detect the presence of a cyber-attack that impacts the compressor station physical processes, locate the critical functions being manipulated, and potentially neutralize the attack allowing continued operations. The technology was successfully demonstrated at an operating compressor facility located in New York state.

03 NATURAL GAS↗

Machine Learning Based Resilience Testing of an Address Randomization Cyber Defense

Moving target defenses (MTDs) are widely used as an active defense strategy for thwarting cyberattacks on cyber-physical systems by increasing diversity of software and network paths. Recently, machine Learning (ML) and deep Learning (DL) models have been demonstrated to defeat some of the cyber defenses by learning attack detection patterns and defense strategies. It raises concerns about the susceptibility of MTD to ML and DL methods. Here, in this article, we analyze the effectiveness of ML and DL models when it comes to deciphering MTD methods and ultimately evade MTD-based protections in real-time systems. Specifically, we consider a MTD algorithm that periodically randomizes address assignments within the MIL-STD-1553 protocol—a military standard serial data bus. Two ML and DL-based tasks are performed on MIL-STD-1553 protocol to measure the effectiveness of the learning models in deciphering the MTD algorithm: 1) determining whether there is an address assignments change i.e., whether the given system employs a MTD protocol and if it does 2) predicting the future address assignments. The supervised learning models (random forest and k-nearest neighbors) effectively detected the address assignment changes and classified whether the given system is equipped with a specified MTD protocol. On the other hand, the unsupervised learning model (K-means) was significantly less effective. The DL model (long short-term memory) was able to predict the future addresses with varied effectiveness based on MTD algorithm's settings.

45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEF↗

Data-based and secure switched cyber–physical systems

In this work, we develop a completely model-free moving target defense framework for the detection and mitigation of sensor and/or actuator attacks in cyber–physical systems with dynamics that evolve in discrete-time. We incorporate an intrusion detection mechanism based on an approximate dynamic programming technique that learns the policies for optimal regulation and optimal tracking while simultaneously defending against actuator and sensor attacks in a model-free fashion. Switching rules are leveraged to force proactive and reactive defense mechanisms as well as, guarantee the stability of the equilibrium point. Finally, as a case study, we apply the proposed moving target defense framework to a DC–DC converter that is used in electric vehicles.

42 ENGINEERING↗