Air-Gapped Microservice Control for Aquatic Vessels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing control systems for aquatic vessels face challenges in rapid technology insertion, software maintenance, and security, particularly due to cumbersome virtual machines and lack of applicability of microservices in sensitive systems.
Innovation Solution
A containerized architecture with microservices and DevSecOps principles is implemented, enabling rapid insertion and enhanced security through air-gapping, data security, and 'plug and play' microservices for controlling aquatic vessel components, including sensor data processing and collision avoidance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional virtual machines are used for control systems, then security and assurance are maintained, but software maintenance and improvement processes become lengthy and complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the control system software into microservices that can be independently developed, tested, and deployed. This allows rapid software maintenance and improvement of individual components without requiring lengthy validation of the entire system, while maintaining security through the air-gapped architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an air-gap as an intermediary barrier that physically isolates the control system from external networks. This intermediary enables secure software updates through controlled physical media transfer, resolving the contradiction between security requirements and rapid software improvement needs.
2Reliability
If control systems are isolated from external networks for security, then security from external threats is improved, but technology insertion and updates become more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-configuring microservices and validating them in development environments before transferring them to the air-gapped control system. This allows technology insertion to occur in advance through secure physical media, maintaining both security and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses copying by transferring software microservices from external development systems to the air-gapped control system through physical media such as USB drives or portable hard drives. This copying mechanism enables technology insertion while maintaining network isolation and security.
3Productivity
If microservices are implemented in air-gapped systems, then rapid technology insertion and maintenance are improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by implementing a standardized container orchestration platform that can manage diverse microservices through common interfaces and processes. This universal approach simplifies the management of complex microservice architectures, enabling rapid maintenance while controlling system complexity through standardization.
Data Source
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Figure 2
AI summary
A system configured to control a component of an aquatic vessel comprises a computer system (100) comprising a processor (102) and a storage (104) including an application configured to process input data to generate information relating to controlling a component of an aquatic vessel (110). The application comprises a plurality of microservices, and the computer system is configured to not communicate with an external communications network.