Towards a Multi-Layer Security Vision for Transportation Systems in the 6G Era

Research Project, 2024

Transportation systems provide everyday services for individuals, companies, and society at large. Two important trends in transportation of goods and people are (i) increased autonomy, with the introduction of Automated Driving (AD)/Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) features, (ii) increased connectivity, to support a variety of services (e.g., over-the-air updates, traffic, entertainment). For these features to be accepted, the system must be safe and secure. Security can be treated at different levels, including at the sensor/actuator level, by making it tamper-resistant, at the communication level, by introducing physical layer security features, and at higher layers, by cryptographic means. 

With research underway towards 6G systems, an important shift is occurring: 6G will support not only communication, but also sensing, thereby replacing or complementing radar, cameras, and lidar. This introduces new security risks, as sensing and actuation data will be shared wirelessly, providing additional opportunities for attackers, while simultaneously bringing advantages in attack detection with joint sensing and communication.

The goal of this project is to bring together 4 researchers who have different perspectives on security and develop a common vision towards 6G multi-layer security in transportation systems. By fundamentally rethinking security in this new era from a multi-layer perspective and bridging gaps between different approaches to security, this project has the potential for high-impact scientific contributions as well as paving the way for larger funding applications. By considering different layers, the project aims to increase the security of 6G-supported transportation systems, benefiting society at large.