In the ever-evolving world of maritime technology, a groundbreaking study has emerged that could significantly impact the way unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) operate, especially in the face of cyber threats. Led by Dongwei Wang from the Logistics Engineering College at Shanghai Maritime University, the research, published in the *Journal of Marine Science and Engineering* (which translates to *Journal of Ocean and Marine Engineering*), tackles the challenging problem of controlling multiple USVs under false data injection (FDI) attacks.
So, what does this mean for the maritime industry? Let’s break it down.
Imagine a fleet of USVs working together to complete a mission. These vehicles need to maintain a specific formation or “surround” a target, like a ship or an area of interest. However, cyber threats like FDI attacks can inject false data into the system, causing the USVs to lose track of their positions and the target, leading to mission failure.
Wang and his team have developed a sophisticated control strategy to combat this issue. They’ve designed a predefined-time observer (PTO) that can estimate and counteract the false data injected by these cyber attacks. This is a crucial step because, as Wang explains, “the constrained surrounding tracking error of multi-USVs is first formulated based on an exponential prescribed performance function.”
But how do they ensure the USVs maintain their formation despite these disturbances? The team has integrated a dynamic event-triggering (DET) mechanism with a learning-based prescribed performance control (PPC). This combination allows the USVs to adjust their control actions only when necessary, based on the current situation, rather than at fixed intervals. This approach not only improves the efficiency of the control system but also prevents a phenomenon known as Zeno behavior, where the system would require an infinite number of control actions in a finite time, which is clearly impractical.
The control strategy is developed using adaptive dynamic programming (ADP), a method that enables the system to learn and adapt to new situations over time. As Wang puts it, “based on adaptive dynamic programming (ADP) and the DET mechanism, a prescribed performance time-varying surrounding control scheme is developed.”
So, what are the commercial impacts and opportunities for the maritime sector? The ability to maintain precise control of multiple USVs under cyber threats opens up new possibilities for various applications. For instance, in offshore operations, USVs can be used for inspection, maintenance, and repair tasks around oil rigs and wind farms. The proposed control strategy ensures that these operations can continue smoothly, even if the system comes under attack.
Moreover, in maritime surveillance and security, USVs can be deployed to monitor large areas for illegal activities like piracy, smuggling, and illegal fishing. The ability to maintain formation and track targets accurately, despite cyber threats, enhances the effectiveness of these operations.
In conclusion, this research represents a significant advancement in the field of USV control, particularly in the face of cyber threats. As the maritime industry continues to embrace automation and digitalization, the need for robust and adaptive control strategies becomes ever more critical. The work of Wang and his team provides a promising solution to this challenge, paving the way for safer, more efficient, and more secure maritime operations.