Recent Cyber-Physical-System developments and their safety & security management risk factors
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Introduction: Recent developments in a wide variety of cyber-physical system (CPS)designs have resulted in many safety and security concerns. These are caused by increasingcomplexity, connectivity to the outside world, and a variety of component types, all contributing toincreased system vulnerability. Simultaneously, the use of digital models, big data analytics, remotecomputing, online services, and machine learning extends manufacturing systems far beyond theirphysical and visible boundaries.Focusing on industry and healthcare settings, this study explores the challenges faced by safety andsecurity management originating from these developments.Method: The scoping review method was used to gather literature on safety and security concerns.These are grouped and linked to the CPS components. Subsequently, their impact is reviewed fromthe perspective of safety and security management systems.Results: The findings indicate that safety and security management become entangled, many newrisks need to be considered, and the availability of online digital real-time system components andemployee skills are critical factors. Some of the sensors and safety metrics software must now beclassified as safety-critical because robots and people have started to share the same workspace. Therapid developments and many unresolved issues on design, ethics, data and software quality, externalsupervision, standards and guidance, legal frameworks, and online system components abroadurgently require attention.In the discussion, several recommendations are made regarding how safety and security managementcan address these challenges.Conclusions: While robots and people increasingly mingle on shop floors and in care situations, safetymanagement is lagging behind current CPS developments. New critical safety aspects require theattention of safety and security management.Practical applications: These findings in safety and security management systems will contribute toavoiding harm to people and the environment in companies operating CPS. One sentence summary: This study presents a structured way to deal with safety management ofCyber-Physical-Systems.
Authors: Paul Lindhout, Genserik Reniers
Institutions: University of Antwerp, Delft University of Technology, KU Leuven
Language: English
Subfield: Safety, Risk, Reliability and Quality
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4412518587