{"id":4981,"date":"2024-12-06T13:31:03","date_gmt":"2024-12-06T12:31:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mecatron.rma.ac.be\/?page_id=4981"},"modified":"2026-01-05T11:32:41","modified_gmt":"2026-01-05T10:32:41","slug":"forces","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/mecatron.rma.ac.be\/index.php\/projects\/forces\/","title":{"rendered":"FORCES"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Defence-related research action (DEFRA)<\/a><\/p>\n

2024 – 2028<\/span><\/p>\n

1.8 M\u20ac<\/p>\n

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Th\u00e9o Engels<\/a><\/p>\n

Ken Hasselmann<\/a><\/p>\n

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Partners<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n
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Enhancing Cybersecurity in Defence Robotics by Advancing Memory-Safe Robotics<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The FOundations for Reliable, CorrEct, and Secure robotic systems (FORCES) project tackles a critical challenge in modern cybersecurity: ensuring the safety and resilience of robotic systems against cyber threats. By leveraging the power of memory-safe programming languages, specifically Rust, FORCES aims to transform the way robotic systems are designed and secured for defence applications.<\/span><\/p>\n

Why Memory Safety Matters<\/h3>\n

Robotic systems play an essential role in high-stakes defence operations, from surveillance and reconnaissance to demining and payload delivery. However, many of these systems rely on legacy codebases written in C and C++, which allow direct memory manipulation\u2014a leading cause of severe security vulnerabilities. Historical incidents, such as the Heartbleed bug and the BLASTPASS vulnerability, have underscored the risks posed by unsafe memory practices.<\/p>\n

In response, the FORCES project addresses these vulnerabilities by pioneering a transition to Rust, a memory-safe programming language that prevents out-of-bounds errors and use-after-free bugs. By prioritizing memory safety, FORCES supports the resilience and security of robotic systems critical to defence.<\/p>\n

Objectives of the FORCES Project<\/h3>\n

FORCES sets out to achieve three key objectives:<\/p>\n

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  1. \n

    Developing a Robust Transpilation Tool<\/strong>: This innovative tool will automatically convert legacy C\/C++ code into Rust, enhancing memory safety while maintaining performance.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    Creating a Comprehensive Evaluation Framework<\/strong>: This framework will define metrics for correctness, security, performance, and maintainability, ensuring the automated transpilation process meets rigorous standards.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    Demonstrating Practical Applicability<\/strong>: The methodology will be validated across various defence-related robotic use cases, proving the effectiveness of the approach in real-world scenarios.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Expected Impact<\/h3>\n

    By significantly reducing the attack surface of cyber-physical systems, FORCES will enhance the overall security of defence robotics. The adoption of Rust not only mitigates memory-related vulnerabilities but also fosters a culture of secure programming within the defence sector. These advancements will ensure greater resilience against cyber threats and improve trust in the systems produced by defence research institutions.<\/p>\n

    Project Execution<\/h3>\n

    The FORCES project will unfold over three phases:<\/p>\n

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    1. \n

      Research Phase (Year 1)<\/strong>: Focused on developing the transpilation methodology and defining evaluation metrics.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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      Prototype Development (Year 2)<\/strong>: Culminating in a TRL4 prototype, this phase will demonstrate the viability of the transpilation tool on selected defence robotic use cases.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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      Refinement and Expansion Phase (Years 3-4)<\/strong>: Aiming for TRL5, this phase will enhance the tool\u2019s maturity and expand its application to a broader range of defence scenarios.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      A Collaborative Effort<\/h3>\n

      The FORCES project is a collaboration between three key partners:<\/p>\n

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        Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB)<\/strong>: A leader in software engineering research, VUB will develop the transpilation methodology and define performance metrics.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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        Royal Military Academy (RMA)<\/strong>: With extensive experience in defence systems and robotics, RMA will provide realistic use cases for validation and contribute to refining the tools and metrics.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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        Thales Belgium (TBE)<\/strong>: As an industry leader in cybersecurity, TBE will define maintainability and security metrics to ensure the highest standards of security for the transpiled code.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        Shaping the Future of Defence Robotics<\/h3>\n

        Through state-of-the-art technologies and methodologies, including static analysis, automated testing, and performance evaluation, FORCES will establish new benchmarks for secure programming and resilient robotic systems in defence. The project\u2019s outcomes will not only address current vulnerabilities but also lay the groundwork for a more secure future in cyber-physical systems.<\/p>\n

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