The Importance of Cyber (Physical) Systems
In order to know where the future is going, we first have to understand what it’s made of. There’s no need to dive into the details with this one as of yet — it’ll be a future post! What I will say about this one is that it’s going to be huge in the coming years, and your organization has to adapt accordingly.
they are found in a wide range of industries, from agriculture to manufacturing
Cyber-physical systems are used in a wide array of industries, from agriculture to manufacturing. Each industry uses the technology differently. For instance, in healthcare, cyber-physical systems are used to help doctors track their patients’ medical histories and symptoms. In the automotive industry, they are an integral part of self-driving cars—they allow automated vehicles to monitor the roads, traffic signs and lights, other motor vehicles on the road, pedestrians crossing the street (and whether or not they’re using a crosswalk), and more all at once.
The ability of cyber-physical systems to control all of these variables allows them to create safer driving conditions for people on the road. Their use is also evident in transportation—they help pilots navigate aircraft through hazardous weather conditions and stop trains from crashing into each other. In agriculture, farmers can use them to monitor critical factors like soil moisture levels which helps them manage their irrigation schedules more effectively. Cyber-physical systems have also been incorporated into manufacturing processes so robotics can precisely follow production protocols without error or deviation—for example, Amazon’s “Kiva” robots located in its warehouses operate autonomously and were designed with advanced cyber-physical system capabilities that allow them to quickly locate products stored on shelves while avoiding collisions with employees who might be working within proximity of one another as well as themselves.
they can be controlled and monitored remotely.
- They Can Be Controlled and Monitored Remotely
Cyber-physical systems can be controlled and monitored over a wireless network from anywhere in the world. You can remotely control devices or sensors, check on the status of your devices and sensors, use your smartphone to control and monitor them, etc. For example, you can control a thermostat with your smartphone while you’re away at work. Then when you come home, your house is warm and toasty. Or if you forgot to turn off the lights when leaving for vacation, simply log onto a website with your phone or computer to adjust the settings as necessary!
There are many examples of different types of cyber-physical systems:
- Wearables that monitor health parameters like heart rate (e.g., Apple Watch)
- Smart home appliances such as refrigerators that notify you when it’s time for some fresh milk (e.g., Samsung Family Hub), washing machines that tell how much longer they’ll run before being done running (e.g., Whirlpool WTW8700DC), ovens who sense what temperature they’re cooking at based on internal thermometers (e.g., LG ProBake Convection OVEN).
they can have multiple uses
Cyber-physical systems can be used for a wide range of functions, from controlling industrial machinery to managing home automation devices. Their ability to handle both physical and virtual functions makes them extremely versatile, and their application can be adapted for many types of tasks.
it can be difficult to manage the security of these systems
It can be difficult to manage the security of these systems. Since these systems often live outside of typical enterprise IT, the limitations and complexities of managing network security are removed, but it introduces a whole new set of challenges.
To ensure that CPSs are secure, one must first understand how they may be vulnerable. Often CPSs are reliant on more than just local computing resources for their operation meaning that they’re exposed to threats outside of their direct control (i.e., DDoS attacks). The components that make up these systems (such as sensors and actuators) regularly send data back and forth across their networks which makes them susceptible to man-in-the-middle attacks. In addition, many rely on non-traditional methods such as Bluetooth or RFID for communication which can be utilized by those with malicious intent. Finally, many lack basic security features such as authentication, access control mechanisms, and auditing because they were not originally intended to interact with other devices or systems over a network
they are designed to maximize the efficiency of operations.
With the development of these smart systems, it is now possible to physically enhance an operating system through machine-to-machine communication. Data is then collected on how the system is performing and adjustments can be made to optimize or improve certain features.
For instance, cyber-physical systems are being used in manufacturing plants to increase the efficiency of operations by detecting when a problem occurs. Once they sense a problem with the operational process, they automatically go into action to correct the issue. This not only improves the quality of products but also reduces costs by minimizing downtime due to human error or machine malfunctioning
Cyber-physical systems are an important part of the future of technology
Cyber-physical systems (CPS) are an important part of the future of technology. The more companies and society that rely on these systems, the more efficient we will become.
It’s a great tool for companies to improve operations and the customer experience. It can be used to solve complex problems and create new innovative products.
