Aircraft Cyber-Attack Simulation System for Pilot Reaction Assessment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current systems lack the capability to simulate the effects of cyber-attacks on aircraft systems on pilots, making it difficult to assess and quantify pilot reactions and aircraft responses, which is crucial for developing effective defense mechanisms.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that generate simulation data to create a flight simulation environment, simulate cyber-attacks on aircraft systems, and present sensor and virtual flight data to pilots, allowing for the assessment of cyber-attack impacts and the development of defense strategies.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If computer security measures are implemented to protect aircraft networks and systems from cyber-attacks, then system security is improved, but the ability to simulate and evaluate pilot reactions to cyber-attacks cannot be achieved

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem securityVSAvoidcapability to simulate cyber-attack effects on pilot

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system creates a virtual copy of the aircraft and its systems, allowing cyber-attack simulations to be performed on the virtual model without affecting the actual aircraft. This enables evaluation of pilot reactions and system responses to cyber-attacks while maintaining security of the real aircraft systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

A simulation system acts as an intermediary between cyber-attack scenarios and pilot training/evaluation. The simulation environment mediates the interaction by generating virtual cyber-attack conditions and measuring pilot responses without directly compromising actual aircraft security systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If flight simulation is used to train pilots and evaluate aircraft responses, then pilot preparedness is improved, but the ability to assess specific cyber-attack impacts is lost without simulated cyber-attack scenarios

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepilot preparednessVSAvoidcyber-attack impact assessment data

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-configures the simulation environment with cyber-attack scenario capabilities, allowing various cyber-attack types to be systematically introduced during flight simulation. This preliminary setup enables collection of impact assessment data before actual cyber-attack incidents occur.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The simulation system incorporates feedback mechanisms that measure and record pilot reactions and aircraft responses to simulated cyber-attacks. This feedback loop provides quantitative data on cyber-attack impacts, enabling assessment and improvement of pilot preparedness and system resilience.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS9836990B2System and method for evaluating cyber-attacks on aircraft

Publication Date: 2017.12.05 THE BOEING CO

AI summary

A system for evaluating a cyber-attack on an aircraft may include a display associated with the aircraft, a sensor system configured to generate sensor data for a pilot, and a data processing system configured to: (1) generate simulation data, (2) generate a flight simulation from the simulation data, (3) simulate the cyber-attack on at least one aircraft system during the flight simulation, (4) generate virtual flight data during the flight simulation, and (5) present the sensor data and the virtual flight data.