Secure Encoded Instruction Graphs for End-to-End Data Validation in Autonomous Robots

As autonomous robots are becoming more widespread, more attention is being paid to the security of robotic operations. Autonomous robots can be seen as cyber-physical systems: they can operate in virtual, physical, and human realms. Therefore, securing the operations of autonomous robots requires not only securing their data (e.g., sensor inputs and mission instructions) but securing their interactions with their environment. There is currently a deficiency of methods that would allow robots to securely ensure their sensors and actuators are operating correctly without external feedback. This article introduces an encoding method and end-to-end validation framework for the missions of autonomous robots. In particular, we present a proof of concept of a map encoding method, which allows robots to navigate realistic environments and validate operational instructions with almost zero a priori knowledge. We demonstrate our framework using two different encoded maps in experiments with simulated and real robots. Our encoded maps have the same advantages as typical landmark-based navigation, but with the added benefit of cryptographic hashes that enable end-to-end information validation. Our method is applicable to any aspect of the robotic operation in which there is a predefined set of actions or instructions given to the robot.