Back to search

IKTPLUSS-IKT og digital innovasjon

ECSEL-prosjekt (SafeCOP, Safe Cooperating Cyber-Physical Systems using Wireless Communication)

Awarded: NOK 7.8 mill.

SafeCOP was a H2020 ECSEL project that targeted Cooperating Cyber-Physical Systems (CO-CPS), which are systems that rely on wireless communication, have multiple stakeholders, use dynamic system definitions and operate in unpredictable environments. In this setting, no single responsible stakeholder can be identified, making safe cooperation an important concern. The SafeCOP project has investigated approaches to safety assurance of CO-CPS, creating a framework on how to allow certification and development of such systems. The project has also examined possible solutions for safe wireless communication and have presented an architecture based on end-to-end mechanisms inherited from railway signaling. Furthermore, the project has defined a runtime manager for detecting abnormal behaviors during operation. The results from the project was piloted in various demonstrators which took place in Trondheim in May 2019. Of the Norwegian partners, DNV GL has been responsible for the safety assurance framework, while SINTEF has been the lead participant on the development of the architecture for safe communication. Maritime Robotic was the owner of the Norwegian use case, addressing bathymetry using unmanned surface vehicles driving in formation.

Prosjektet har oppnådd resultater som forventes å ha nytteverdi i tiden fremover. Det er utviklet kompetanse på autonome systemer generelt, og mer spesifikt innenfor sikkerhet og sertifisering, samt bruk av trådløs kommunikasjon. Maritime Robotics utviklet nye metoder og styringsalgoritmer for sine ubemannede overflatefarkoster. Resultatene er integrert i operative produkter, som er på oppdrag både nasjonalt og internasjonalt. DNV GL har etablert ny metodikk og nye metoder for sikkerhetsanalyser og sertifisering av komplekse samarbeidende systemer. Dette går inn i DNV GLs brede portefølje på veiledning, godkjenning og sertifisering for sikkerhetskritiske systemer i forskjellige domener. SINTEF har ervervet seg kompetanse på metodikk for sikkerhetsanalyser og etablert en arkitektur for sikkerhetskritisk trådløs kommunikasjon. Denne kompetansen vil benyttes i nye forskningsprosjekter i samarbeid med norsk og internasjonal industri og akademia.

SafeCOP is an ECSEL project targeting cyber-physical systems whose safe cooperation relies on wireless communication. The Cooperative Open Cyber-Physical System (CO-CPS) is a system-of-systems, which is characterized by multiple stakeholders, dynamic system definitions, and unpredictable operating environments. In this scenario, no single party holds the overall responsibility over the system, which means the safety-relevant functions are performed jointly while relying on the wireless communication. This means that security might easily be compromised. Such CO-CPS can successfully address several societal challenges, and can lead to new applications and new markets. For instance, cooperative vehicles have been shown to reduce fuel consumption, decrease the number of traffic accidents, and result in efficiency gains and congestion savings. CO-CPS can also be successfully applied in healthcare, which is characterized by dramatically increasing costs. For example, cooperative robots could be used to reduce the amount of physical labor in hospitals. Development of CO-CPS, however, poses challenges that are not adequately addressed by existing practices, typically requiring design decisions to be made that trade-off safety concerns, functionality, cost, and other considerations. SafeCOP will develop a safety-assurance framework for such systems, which will facilitate their certification and market release. The project will also define a reference Runtime Manager architecture that detects abnormal behavior, and triggers a safety degraded mode in case of emergency. SafeCOP will also contribute to developing new standards and regulations by providing certification authorities with scientifically legitimate solutions. The project will also equip current wireless technologies with a safety protocol to ensure secure cooperation of already existing systems.

Funding scheme:

IKTPLUSS-IKT og digital innovasjon