Abstract

In recent years, security and data privacy in Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) have gained great thrust. Several anonymity-preserving user authentication and key establishment mechanisms for WSNs with single base station have been suggested in the literature. However, sometimes a single base station may be insufficient to maintain the proper quality of services or it may be a single point of failure in WSNs. Very recently Amin et al. suggested a multiple base stations based anonymous user authentication and key establishment approach for WSNs to address the aforementioned problem. In this paper, we first demonstrate that Amin et al.’s scheme has several security pitfalls. To address the security issues in Amin et al.’s scheme, we design a more secure and anonymous user authentication and key establishment mechanism for WSNs that is also based on multiple base stations concept. An exhaustive comparative study demonstrates that the proposed mechanism gives significantly better security and more functionality attributes with comparable commutation as well as computation overheads while those are compared with Amin et al’s. approach.

Abstract

With the rapid growth of wireless technology, Internet of Things (IoT) became very popular in both industrial as well as consumer product domains. While there is a lot of available platforms and technologies for IoT, the access control issue is often overlooked in the IoT security research. An effective access control depends on the proper user authentication mechanism. Thus, access control in this scenario is an emerging and challenging problem in the IoT environment. In this paper, we design an anonymous fine-grained user access control mechanism for IoT architecture. In the proposed scheme, the user authentication is performed by the smart device node based on the user attributes, which enables fine-grained access control over the authorized data. We utilize the widely accepted formal verification tool, called the Automated Validation of Internet Security Protocols and Applications (AVISPA), to formally prove the security of the proposed scheme. Additionally, we also provide a detailed informal security analysis of the scheme. Finally, we perform a simulation study using the broadly used NS3 network simulator to show the practical impact on the proposed scheme on various network parameters.

Abstract

‘Corruption’ can be defined as the exploitation of delegated authority for illegitimate profits. We consider the kind of corruption happening on several levels in the country in regards to infrastructure and public works. Corruption can be identified by studying the issue from both sides—the government and the public. We look at how ICT, with the help of citizens, can help in identifying misuse and corruption. Corruption is a big menace in India. Transparency and accountability are generally improved when we enable support and citizen involvement in addition to closer collaboration between government and citizens. We dont claim that our model is not as such a complete remedy to fight corruption, and it can also be misused by fraudulent officials. Practically, impact depends on the aptness of ICT for local circumstances and requirements and in utilising technology. There are several corruption-prone public services and citizens can be for effectively monitoring and mitigating corruption as citizens would generally like to participate in activities that would help in mitigating corruption at their provincial level.

Abstract

We establish a convex resource theory of non-Markovianity inducing information backflow under the constraint of small time intervals within the temporal evolution. We identify the free operations and a generalized bona-fide measure of non-Markovian information backflow. The framework satisfies the basic properties of a consistent resource theory. The proposed resource quantifier is lower bounded by the optimization free Rivas–Huelga–Plenio (RHP) measure of non-Markovianity. We next define the robustness of non-Markovianity and show that it can directly linked with the RHP measure of non-Markovianity through a lower bound. This enables a physical interpretation of the RHP measure. We further relate robustness of non-Markovianity with the quantum capacity of dephasing channels.

Abstract

Software-defined networking (SDN) is an agile, modern networking approach that facilitates innovations in the networking paradigm. The abstracted and centralized network operating system facilitates the network management and reduces operational expenditure (OPEX). The open nature and simplicity of the data-forwarding plane dramatically reduces capital expenditure (CAPEX) by leveraging commodity servers and switches. SDN also lends itself very well to address major cloud computing issues and complement cloud services, especially in terms of network virtualization and networking as a service (NaaS). As a new technology, SDN does involve certain security challenges, which include distributed denial of service (DDoS) threats, build and run time injected malware, insider (tenant) attacks, and security holes resulting from controller misconfigurations. These are severe threats that can cripple an entire network. It is crucial to address the SDN vulnerabilities to ensure its successful deployment in private data center networks, on cloud platforms and beyond. Some security solutions leverage the built-in features of SDN, such as its controller software component, while other solutions provide external SDN applications running above the controller. This study reviews the security solutions for the vulnerabilities of state-of-the-art SDN controllers and the available countermeasures. Furthermore, an in-depth analysis of the SDN features that support security is presented, and some unresolved research issues on SDN controllers are identified.

Abstract

This article introduces a new consortium blockchain-enabled access control scheme in edge computing based generic Internet of Things environment (called CBACS-EIoT), where the mutual authentication among the IoT smart devices and the gateway node(s), and also among the gateway node(s) and respective edge server(s) occur. In addition, key management phase is executed among the edge server(s) and associated cloud server(s). Using the established secret keys, the entities in the network communicate securely. The data gathered securely by the gateway nodes are then used to form various types of blocks (private, public, or consortium) at the edge server(s) based on application types in the generic IoT environment. The created blocks are mined by the edge servers in order to add them in the blockchain center. A detailed security analysis including the formal security has revealed that the proposed CBACS-EIoT is robust against various potential attacks needed in the IoT environment. To further strengthen the security, the simulation-based formal security verification on CBACS-EIoT has been carried out to exhibit that CBACS-EIoT is secure against passive and active attacks. Finally, a meticulous comparative performance analysis shows that CBACS-EIoT offers superior security and supports more functionality features, and also provides less communication and computational overheads compared with existing relevant schemes.

Abstract

The recent research is focused on the development of an advanced interceptor missile that has hit-to-kill accuracy against ballistic targets performing evasive maneuvers. In this paper, a guidance law that achieves hit-to-kill accuracy against ballistic target executing worst-case maneuvers is developed using second-order sliding mode control and optimal control. The guidance law thus developed is continuous and has minimum time convergence for worst-case target maneuvers. The performance of the continuous guidance law with minimum time convergence is evaluated through numerical simulations against ballistic targets executing step maneuvers with changing polarity and weaving maneuvers.

Abstract

This work was supported by the Science and Engineering Research Board, Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology, India, under Grant SR/CSI/PDF-21/2013. John Eric Steephen: Conception and design, analysis and interpretation of data, drafting the article. Sneha Kummetha: Design, collection and analysis of data. Siva Charan Obbineni: Design, collection and analysis of data. Raju Surampudi Bapi: Design, drafting the article.

Abstract

A solution to the waypoint navigation problem for the fixed wing micro air vehicles (MAV) having a severe coupling between longitudinal and lateral dynamics, in the framework of integrated guidance and control (IGC) is addressed in this paper. IGC yields a single step solution to the waypoint navigation problem, unlike conventional multiple loop design. The pure proportional navigation (PPN) guidance law is integrated with the coupled MAV dynamics. A multivariable static output feedback (SOF) controller is designed for the linear state space model formulated in IGC framework. A waypoint navigation algorithm is proposed that handles the minimum turn radius constraint of the MAV and also evaluates the feasibility of reaching a waypoint. Non-linear simulations with and without wind disturbances are performed on a high fidelity 150 mm wingspan MAV model to demonstrate the proposed waypoint navigation algorithm.

Abstract

This paper analyzes the effects of propeller flow on the linear coupled longitudinal and lateral dynamics of a 150 mm wingspan fixed wing micro air vehicle (MAV). The effects propeller flow on the lift, drag, pitching moment and side force is obtained through wind tunnel tests. The aerodynamic forces and moments are modeled as a function of angle of attack, sideslip angle, control surface deflection and propeller rotation per minute. The nonlinear six degrees of freedom model is linearized about straight and constant altitude flight conditions for different trim airspeed to obtain linear coupled longitudinal and lateral state space model. The eigenvalues and eigenvectors of linear coupled longitudinal and lateral state space model are compared with and without propeller flow effects. The variation in the natural frequencies and damping ratios of short period mode, phugoid mode and Dutch roll mode are analyzed for various trim airspeed. An increase in the natural frequency is observed for phugoid mode and Dutch roll mode with propeller effects. The stability of the spiral mode is enhanced by the propeller flow and also the response of the roll subsidence mode is faster with propeller effects. Detailed analysis of eigenvalues and eigenvectors shows the importance of incorporating propeller flow in analyzing the dynamics of the MAV