"Researchers Work to Fulfill Promise of Resilient Autonomous Control Systems"
The primary objective of the Resilient, Autonomous, Networked Control Systems (RANCS) Research Group at the University of South Florida is to make the world smarter by investing in the autonomy of Networked Control Systems (NCSs). However, while autonomy provides significant benefits, it also introduces potential system safety and security risks. Therefore, the lab emphasizes the resilience of NCSs, ensuring that these systems can effectively withstand and recover from disruptions. RANCS are a new type of control system designed to be more reliable and adaptable than traditional control systems. They consist of features, such as autonomous decision-making, networked communication, and resilient design that enable them to operate in complex and quickly changing environments. For example, a RANCS could be used to safely navigate a self-driving car's route. In this situation, the RANCS would be required to make autonomous navigational judgments, such as when to change lanes or stop at a red light. To prevent accidents, the autonomous vehicle would also need to communicate with other vehicles and infrastructure. In addition, the system would need to be resilient against failures, including sensor malfunctions, software bugs, and cyberattacks. This article continues to discuss the RANCS Research Group at the University of South Florida and the lab's emphasis on making autonomous control systems resilient to cyberattacks and other failures.