Enhanced Cybersecurity via Smart Antenna Technology for V2X

Problem Statement: V2X/C-V2X is a vital component in realizing Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) and connected autonomous vehicles as it can greatly improve road safety and enable high levels of automation. Like all wireless communication systems, V2X/C-V2X faces operational and cybersecurity risks which include signal blockage, intentional/unintentional interferences, and hacking. Such risks will only increase with wider deployment of ITS and the increasing number of connected autonomous vehicles and V2X/C-V2X nodes. While the data security of V2X/C-V2X can be safeguarded by advanced encryptions, and normal unintentional interferences can be mitigated by modern waveform coding schemes or spectrum management, the signal blockage and malicious intentional interference issues must be addressed at the RF front-end before reaching the amplification or digitization stages. Similar issues have long been encountered in terrestrial and aerial Global Positioning System (GPS)/Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) navigation systems. These issues have been effectively mitigated by employing multi-element antenna systems that support adaptive beamforming and interference-nulling electronics. The research team has developed several different advanced designs of anti-jam GPS/GNSS antenna systems with four to eight antenna elements for critical DoD applications. Such antenna systems utilize multiple co-located elements that have been carefully designed to achieving maximum beamforming and pattern nulling performance within a small co-located package. However, such antenna technology has not been applied to ITS applications due to cost, size, and weight. Therefore, there is need for a innovative compact and inexpensive multi-element antenna system design with optimal gain and pattern performance for supporting beamforming and interference-nulling of V2X/C-V2X signals. Objectives: This research effort aims to develop a compact inexpensive V2X/C-V2X antenna system design which has 4 antenna elements with suitable gain and pattern characteristics for achieving optimal beamforming and interference-nulling operations. Note that this approach is different from the MIMO approaches and can achieve superior signal-to-interference-and-noise ratio improvement at the RF front end when used will appropriate electronics. Scope: This 1-year effort will involve developing an initial 4-element antenna system design concept, optimizing design parameters against target gain and pattern performance, developing a low-cost fabrication and assembling strategy, fabricating a prototype, and validating design performance by measuring the prototype. Methods: The initial design concept and its subsequent design optimizations will be conducted using state-of-art electromagnetic numerical modeling tools. These design optimizations will be constrained by low-cost materials, minimum form factors, light weight, and inexpensive fabrication and integration processes. The gain and pattern of the fabricated antenna will be validated via measurements using the OSU ElectroScience Lab’s state-of-the-art compact range facility.

• Record URL:
  https://utc.engineering.osu.edu/enhanced-cybersecurity-smart-antenna-technology-v2x

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $102105
• Contract Numbers:

  69A3552348327

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  University Transportation Centers Program
  Department of Transportation
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Managing Organizations:

  Center for Automated Vehicle Research with Multimodal Assured Navigation

  Ohio State University
  Columbus, OH  United States  43210
• Project Managers:

  Kline, Robin

• Performing Organizations:

  Ohio State University, Columbus

  410 West Tenth Avenue
  Columbus, OH  United States  43210
• Principal Investigators:

  Chen, Chi-Chih

• Start Date: 20231030
• Expected Completion Date: 20240830
• Actual Completion Date: 0
• USDOT Program: University Transportation Centers

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Antennas; Computer security; Connected vehicles; Design; Interference; Mobile communication systems
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Design; Highways; Security and Emergencies; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01901166
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Center for Automated Vehicle Research with Multimodal Assured Navigation
• Contract Numbers: 69A3552348327
• Files: UTC, RIP
• Created Date: Dec 1 2023 5:06AM