Work

Position Spoofing Attacks on Unmanned Surface Vehicles

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) are equipped with numerous sensors, and data is transmitted through networks. Attackers may remotely compromise unmanned surface vehicle (USV) systems and commit criminal acts via networks, causing USVs to deviate from their intended course or pose a collision risk. Although significant research efforts have focused on developing attack detection and defense technologies for USVs, less attention has been paid to the offensive perspective—particularly the design and modeling of novel attack strategies. In this paper, we investigate the potential attack locations of USVs equipped with distributed navigation, guidance, and control modules. We propose a series of novel attack methods designed to compromise the navigation safety of USVs. These methods compromise the control system by blocking, modifying, and delaying navigation data to manipulate the navigation routes of USVs. Ultimately, the simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of these attacks on the navigation of USVs.

Source: Journal of Marine Science and Engineering

DOI: 10.3390/jmse13122269

Authors: Jia Wang, Yang Xiao, Tieshan Li, Philip C. L. Chen

Institutions: Dalian Maritime University, Dalian Polytechnic University, University of Alabama, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, South China University of Technology

Language: English

Topic: Maritime Navigation and Safety

Subfield: Ocean Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,137

Funder: Liaoning Revitalization Talents Program