Securing Unmanned Surface Vehicles: Addressing Cyber-Physical Threats in Maritime Autonomy

Guangrui Bian

Abstract:

The growing use of unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) in maritime
operations has introduced new efficiencies but also exposed significant
cybersecurity risks. As autonomous vessels increasingly rely on interconnected
networks for navigation, communication, and decision-making, they become
prime targets for cyberattacks. This paper investigates the vulnerabilities of
USVs, emphasizing the cyber-physical threats that could lead to navigational
errors, data breaches, and even adversarial control of vessels. We propose a
cybersecurity framework designed to safeguard the operational integrity of
USVs by integrating resilient communication protocols, real-time threat
detection, and autonomous response mechanisms.

Submission Number: 212