FAA awards Embry-Riddle CARS contract to research aviation cybersecurity
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - The Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Cyber Security Data Science program has awarded a multiyear contract to Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University’s Center for Aerospace Resilient Systems to research new methods for improving aviation cybersecurity through data science, artificial intelligence, and machine learning.
"Embry‑Riddle is supporting the CSDS’s primary purpose, which is to accelerate the aviation industry’s timely adoption and adaptation of novel CSDS and AI/ML technologies to enhance cybersecurity and increase safety and resiliency for the airline, airport and aircraft elements of the national aviation ecosystem," said Isidore Venetos, FAA CSDS program manager. "Advanced innovative technology is needed to ensure that safe and efficient methods continue to be the norm for our aviation transportation sector."
The partnership between the FAA and Embry‑Riddle in Daytona Beach, Fla., began in late 2021 as part of a federal effort to counter cyberattacks. Total research funding has reached nearly $3.8 million, with $1.3 million allocated to the current phase. This phase involves simulating data from aircraft systems to train AI/ML models and examining the effects of complex cyberattacks on aviation systems in controlled environments.
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"Real aircraft data is hard to come by and understandably has a number of restrictions on its use and distribution, and training AI/ML takes a lot of data," said Jayson Clifford, CARS software engineer and technical lead. "We aim to produce a virtual aircraft that is distinct from any real-world aircraft, but still captures a representative aircraft architecture," which includes the behind-the-scenes network of computer systems and sensors that operate during flight. "We can also simulate cyber events that would be impossible to capture in real-world operational aircraft today to help us prepare for the future."
Clifford added that the research could aid the development of new cyber-anomaly detection systems and inform strategies for integrating these systems into increasingly connected and complex aircraft.
Dr. Sean R. Crouse, associate director of CARS and co-principal investigator on the program, said, "This program reflects our commitment to preparing students for leadership roles in cybersecurity and aviation. By engaging students directly in industry-led research, we are equipping them with hands-on experience that not only enhances their education but also contributes to the betterment of the aviation ecosystem as a whole."
