Unmanned Vehicles

Reaching the Benchmark in Secure Unmanned Vehicle Software

Security concerns currently dominate software thinking wherever sensitive or safety-critical information is potentially accessible. Embedded software is no exception. Security researcher Barnaby Jack demonstrated this in 2011 when he used a modified antenna and software to wirelessly attack and take control of Medtronic's implantable insulin pumps. He demonstrated how such a pump could be commanded to release a fatal dose of insulin. Obviously, that vulnerability puts dependent diabetics at risk.

But, what about military vehicles? Their vulnerability raises security concerns to a whole new level. The strategic advantage given to an enemy capable of interfering with or interrogating military vehicle positioning and tracking systems could jeopardize the safety of the driver and crew. But even in unmanned vehicles the exposure of information about the vehicle's intended course could compromise an entire military strategy.