Achieving Hybrid Wired/Wireless Industrial Networks With WDetServ: Reliability-Based Scheduling for Delay Guarantees

Wireless industrial sensor networks are wireless sensor networks which have been adapted to industrial applications. Most techniques for wireless sensor networks can be applied to wireless industrial sensor networks. However, for industrial applications of wireless industrial sensor networks, new requirements such as real-time, reliable delivery need to be considered. In this paper, we propose EARQ, which is a novel routing protocol for wireless industrial sensor networks. It provides real-time, reliable delivery of a packet, while considering energy awareness. In EARQ, a node estimates the energy cost, delay and reliability of a path to the sink node, based only on information from neighboring nodes. Then, it calculates the probability of selecting a path, using the estimates. When packet forwarding is required, it randomly selects the next node. A path with lower energy cost is likely to be selected, because the probability is inversely proportional to the energy cost to the sink node. To achieve real-time delivery, only paths that may deliver a packet in time are selected. To achieve reliability, it may send a redundant packet via an alternate path, but only if it is a source of a packet. Experimental results show that EARQ is suitable for industrial applications, due to its capability for energy efficient, real-time, reliable communications.

In today's competitive industry marketplace, the companies face growing demands to improve process efficiencies, comply with environmental regulations, and meet corporate financial objectives. Given the increasing age of many industrial systems and the dynamic industrial manufacturing market, intelligent and low-cost industrial automation systems are required to improve the productivity and efficiency of such systems. The collaborative nature of industrial wireless sensor networks (IWSNs) brings several advantages over traditional wired industrial monitoring and control systems, including self-organization, rapid deployment, flexibility, and inherent intelligent-processing capability. In this regard, IWSN plays a vital role in creating a highly reliable and self-healing industrial system that rapidly responds to real-time events with appropriate actions. In this paper, first, technical challenges and design principles are introduced in terms of hardware development, system architectures and protocols, and software development. Specifically, radio technologies, energy-harvesting techniques, and cross-layer design for IWSNs have been discussed. In addition, IWSN standards are presented for the system owners, who plan to utilize new IWSN technologies for industrial automation applications. In this paper, our aim is to provide a contemporary look at the current state of the art in IWSNs and discuss the still-open research issues in this field and, hence, to make the decision-making process more effective and direct.

With the success of wireless technologies and the number of wireless devices increasing, the wireless coverage footprint expands and removes the needs of wired networks for industrial applications. Wireless industrial sensor networks (WISNs) are a type of wireless sensor networks (WSNs), which dedicate to industrial applications. The WISNs bring several advantages over traditional wired industrial networks for detection and control, include flexibility, scalability, remote maintenance, and rapid deployment. However, some technical issues and routing design principles need to be noticed in terms of the stringent requirements of industrial applications. In this paper, we firstly introduce the characteristics and some routing issues of WISNs. Then we discuss existing routing protocols for WISNs and analysis their performances. Finally, we outline several future research directions.

After investigating the conception and features of PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) and embedded system, in this paper the conception of a Quasi-PLC is proposed, which combine the advantages of PLC and embedded system. The architecture of Quasi-PLC and a Top-Down design method with collaboration design of software and hardware for Quasi-PLC embedded control system are researched then. Finally, setting the large-scale industrial valve control system as an example, the conception of Quasi-PLC and related technologies are used in industrial valve control system, and a satisfied application effect is obtained, which proves the rationality of the conception of Quasi-PLC and related technologies.

Control systems are used in a number of different industrial sectors and critical infrastructures, including manufacturing, distribution, and transportation. Failure of these control systems because of malware or other faults would be catastrophic for critical infrastructure and would result in significant losses. Adverse operating conditions, such as those found in networked control systems, exacerbate the likelihood of vulnerability to malware attacks. The prospect of severe adversarial assaults such as buffer overflow, conventional faults, and especially stealthy Ladder Logic Bombs is a serious cause of concern in Industrial Control Systems (ICS) with novel attacks such as Struxnet. Decoupled at-distance Electromagnetic spectrum-based monitoring of faults and malware is more robust and can likely be integrated into Industrial Control System frameworks. Our failure analysis and Machine Learning (ML) modeling approach is fundamentally different from traditional methods in that we propose a Hybrid Quantum Artificial Intelligence-based Electromagnetic (EM) Spectral domain-based analysis approach that is completely decoupled from the controller processor and can predict PLC fault/malware conditions, including stealth Ladder Logic Bombs and buffer overflow attacks. Further, robust Supervisory Control Systems (SCSs) that interface with programmable logic controllers (PLCs) are essential components of Industrial Control Systems (ICSs) that handle critical infrastructure. Modern industrial control systems, on the other hand, are made up of densely linked Internet of Things (IoT) nodes. Because of their networked nature, supervisory control systems are also susceptible to widespread cyberattacks. As a result, in the case of a coordinated attack on IoT control systems, the dependability of Supervisory control decision-making procedures is jeopardized and need to be decoupled from the attacks. This work also develops a Fuzzy inference Engine-based supervisory monitoring technology based on the characteristics of the Hybrid Quantum AI-based analysis of the EM spectrum to reduce industrial plant downtime and false alarms by localizing adversarial attacks/faults, risk severity levels, and impacted nodes, as well as having dependability and malware immunity in networked Industrial control systems. The Hybrid QAI technique improved prediction accuracy by up to 88 percent when identifying different control system viruses and defects in 6-stage pipelined processors. The Fuzzy inference engine in the Mamdani Inference System architecture has been found to reduce the risk of false alarms and downtime.

Wireless sensor networks consist of a large number of low-cost, low-power, and multifunctional sensor nodes that communicate over short distances through wireless links. Such sensor networks are ideal candidates for a wide range of applications such as monitoring of critical infrastructures, data acquisition in hazardous environments, industry control systems, vehicular networks, and military operations. Wireless sensor networks introduce new security challenges due to their dynamic topology, severe resource constraints, and absence of a trusted infrastructure. The purpose of this special issue is to publish high-quality research papers as well as review articles addressing recent advances of wireless sensor network security. In this special issue, we will explore the topic of security challenges and solutions for the wide application of wireless sensor networks in different areas, such as RFID and smart grid. RFID has been widely used in logistics and internet of things. Smart grid leverages sensor networks to better balance the load of the power grid. Both of them have great impact on the daily life and areweak points of thewhole economy,which attract the attention of terrorists. The feasible attacks and defense solutions are still not clear.The papers in this volume also cover several important foundational security services for wireless sensor networks, such as key management, key distribution, secure cluster formation, secure architecture for multihop communication, intrusion prediction, and secure localization. All these foundational security services are critical bases for application of wireless sensor networks. We hope that the papers in this volume engender further thinking about new security challenges for wireless sensor networks and even further “out-of-the-box” ideas about how to solve new security problems for wireless sensor networks.

In order to evaluate the network security risks and implement effective defenses in industrial control system, a risk assessment method for industrial control systems based on attack graphs is proposed. Use the concept of network security elements to translate network attacks into network state migration problems and build an industrial control network attack graph model. In view of the current subjective evaluation of expert experience, the atomic attack probability assignment method and the CVSS evaluation system were introduced to evaluate the security status of the industrial control system. Finally, taking the centralized control system of the thermal power plant as the experimental background, the case analysis is performed. The experimental results show that the method can comprehensively analyze the potential safety hazards in the industrial control system and provide basis for the safety management personnel to take effective defense measures.

Computer facilities and microprocessor-based technology have been successfully used in the energy industry. For protection and equipment control, this technology has been used in SCADA, remote control and monitoring applications. Particular attention is paid to the cyber security sector for automation and control systems. Protective application of the equipment and control, SCADA, monitoring and remote control, uses the technology with microprocessor. Due to the great importance of the power supply process, there is no question of being left in a state of vulnerability and neglect. Security is not perfect and will never be. For this reason, there will always be security breaches and incidents. Also, for this reason, not only protection mechanisms are in place, but also mechanisms for rapid detection of incidents and which are able to react effectively to the isolation of problems and to ensuring security. Processes security for systems will continue to evolve in the future. By definition, there are no communication systems that are 100% safe. Attacks against critical industrial infrastructures marked an increase not only in terms of number but also of the level of complexity. The destruction of the industrial control system (ICS) and critical processes were interrupted. For many organizations, the security improvement in ICS systems is great. The extreme sensitivity to ensure the availability and performance of industrial processes has led to a more conservative and rigorous approach to how security measures are implemented. Cyber-attacks that could compromise the availability, integrity, and confidentiality of ICS systems may come from within systems or from outside ICS systems. Among the ICS system infection vectors from the perspective of the SANS Institute (2014) include: external threats (state attacks, hacking etc.), malware, exploiting tools, phishing, internal attacks, cyber security protocols, and industrial espionage. This chapter addresses the cyber security issues required for the protection, automation, control and communications systems of transformation stations as well as methods that could be used to prevent computer attacks that can have a significant impact on the availability of the system Electro-energetic effect with serious consequences on extended area interruptions.

In a few past years, a lot of cyber-attacks on industrial systems were accomplished. The main point of vulnerability of industrial control systems (ICS) is their connection to the Internet. Standard ICS rely on local solutions; however, with the revolution in the shape of Industry 4.0 concept, there are only a few industrial sectors with no connection to the global network. Some researchers have revealed critical vulnerability of the control systems. In this paper, we briefly summarize the current situation, and introduce our solution to the check of changes in PLC via other nodes in industrial network. The way how to do it is possible through using a checksum of actual code, and comparing with the checksums stored in other nodes.

The implementation of automated regulatory control has been around since the middle of the last century through analog means. It has allowed engineers to operate the plant more consistently by focusing on overall operations and settings instead of individual monitoring of local instruments (inside and outside of a control room). A similar approach is proposed for cyber security, where current border-protection designs have been inherited from information technology developments that lack consideration of the high-reliability, high consequence nature of industrial control systems. Instead of an independent development, however, an integrated approach is taken to develop a holistic understanding of performance. This performance takes shape inside a multiagent design, which provides a notional context to model highly decentralized and complex industrial process control systems, the nervous system of critical infrastructure. The resulting strategy will provide a framework for researching solutions to security and unrecognized interdependency concerns with industrial control systems.

Cybersecurity for industrial control systems: A survey

Industrial Control Systems (ICS) are used worldwide in critical infrastructures. An ICS system can be a single embedded system working stand-alone for controlling a simple process or ICS can also be a very complex Distributed Control System (DCS) connected to Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA) system(s) in a nuclear power plant. Although ICS are widely used today, there are very little research on the forensic acquisition and analyze ICS’s artefacts. In this paper we present a case study of forensics in ICS where we describe a method of safeguarding important volatile artefacts from an embedded industrial control system and several other sources.

It is a recent trend to consider wireless sensor networks in harsh industrial environments. With actual deployment of wireless sensor networks, it would be desirable to make a concrete deployment plan regarding connectivities and to place sensors by grouping them according to the planned deployment points, even more in case of targeting multiple objects to be sensed and monitored in harsh environments. The connectedness of groups as well as individual sensors is important specifically for real-time data acquisitions and even more if there are no external communication links among these groups. In this paper, we focus on the connectivity of sensor groups, rather than the individual sensors only, and propose a novel <i xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">group connectivity model</i> so as to analyze group connectivity and to make a concrete deployment plan of sensor groups with regard to the internal distribution of sensors and group positions. We believe that the proposed model should be useful in planning the deployment of wireless sensor networks in harsh industrial environments where running wires is less practical and also prohibitively expensive.

Using wireless sensor networks (WSNs) in delay and reliability critical environments is highly desired due to their unique advantages such as low cost, ease of deployment, and redundancy. However, successful deployment of resource-limited WSNs in such applications requires strict quality-of-service (QoS) provisioning techniques to meet the desired latency and reliability targets of those applications. Implementation of QoS techniques in WSNs is significantly challenging since WSNs have been initially devised for low-data-rate non-real-time applications. Therefore, WSN designers and developers resort to different cross-layer interaction and optimization techniques to provision QoS in WSNs. In this paper, we present a survey on the state of the art of cross-layer QoS approaches in wireless terrestrial sensor networks to achieve delay and reliability bounds in critical applications. Our paper provides a unique classification of cross-layer QoS approaches in WSNs that allows surveying a large amount of studies with utmost clarity. Furthermore, we highlight the main challenges of implementing QoS protocols in WSNs and present an overview of QoS-aware WSN applications.

Industry 4.0 is the German vision for the future of manufacturing, where smart factories use information and communication technologies to digitise their processes to achieve improved quality, lower costs, and increased efficiency. It is likely to bring a massive change to the way control systems function today. Future distributed control systems are expected to have an increased connectivity to the Internet, in order to capitalize on new offers and research findings related to digitalization, such as cloud, big data, and machine learning. A key technology in the realization of distributed control systems is middleware, which is usually described as a reusable software layer between operating system and distributed applications. Various middleware technologies have been proposed to facilitate communication in industrial control systems and hide the heterogeneity amongst the subsystems, such as OPC UA, DDS, and RT-CORBA. These technologies can significantly simplify the system design and integration of devices despite their heterogeneity. However, each of these technologies has its own characteristics that may work better for particular applications. Selection of the best middleware for a specific application is a critical issue for system designers. In this paper, we conduct a survey on available standard middleware technologies, including OPC UA, DDS, and RT-CORBA, and show new trends for different industrial domains.