The first-ever UAS Hack Challenge is taking place from August 19 to 23, 2024, in Rome, New York, at the ORION at NTROPEE facility. This event, hosted by Assured Information Security (AIS) in partnership with ORION, is designed to explore the intersection of drone cybersecurity an technology. It offers a hands-on experience aimed at addressing the critical challenges posed by UAS in the context of UAS vulnerabilities and countermeasures.
Set against New York’s 50-mile UAS corridor, the event provides an ideal environment for both university students and industry experts to engage in practical, real-world learning experiences. Over five days, participants will work on identifying vulnerabilities in drone systems and developing countermeasures to potential cyber threats. The challenge emphasises collaboration and creativity, with AIS subject matter experts on hand to provide instruction and mentorship.
Eric Thayer, Chief Engineer at AIS, highlighted the importance of the event, stating, “UAS Hack is designed to put students in front of industry professionals and industry-relevant platforms to give them an opportunity to grow their skills and learn more about what a security-related career would be like. During the event, students will be mentored and trained on how to evaluate the security of UAS, identify potential threats and provide feedback to vendors and manufacturers.”
The event also serves as a platform for fostering collaboration between academia and industry. Such events are key in accelerating the development of technologies that can enhance the effectiveness of both UAS and C-UAS systems. The hands-on challenges are set in both urban and rural environments, simulating diverse conditions under which these systems may need to operate.
By bringing together the next generation of cybersecurity professionals and current industry experts, the UAS Hack Challenge provides an opportunity to train students in testing the limitations of UAS cybersecurity and the methods for exploiting them. The insights and advancements gained during this event could contribute significantly to the future of drone cybersecurity and defence.
Post Image Credit: ORION
