When I was at the University of Strathclyde, studying Computer and Electronic Systems, in my fourth year (Bachelors), I self-suggested a project involving the creation of an autonomous robot – a very ambitious goal where I wanted to cover the construction of a robot, including 3D printing a chassis mount, designing and assembling electronics, and of course writing the embedded software. In hindsight, it was an ambitious goal, one which could have done with a narrower scope.

Robotic systems are becoming increasingly prevalent in various industries, from manufacturing to healthcare. As these systems become more complex and interconnected, ensuring their security is paramount. During my time at the University of Strathclyde, I managed to get an internship with the Computer Science department and the Carnegie Trust.

The Carnegie Trust is a small independent foundation that provides research grants to both postgraduate and undergraduate students to pursue independent research. They awarded me a Vacation Scholarship that allowed me to research network security of different robotic systems. I then went on to present to both the university Interns and the Carnegie Scholars. Throughout this scholarship, I developed and analysed networked robotic systems. Then using traffic analysis, I found recurring patterns that leaked vital information about the system’s current and earlier operations.