University sponsors symposium offering inside look at new developments in embedded security
A recent Research Symposium on Embedded Security, organized by the Center for Embedded Systems for Critical Applications in the Bradley Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Virginia Tech, offered a look at leading-edge research in the area of secure embedded systems.
About 25 designers and managers from industry, government organizations, academia, and research labs convened for the symposium at the Virginia Tech Research Center — Arlington to learn about current directions in research and development related to secure and embedded systems and to network with others who have similar interests. All sessions were also simulcast to Blacksburg.
The all-day event was sponsored by Virginia Tech National Capital Region in cooperation with the Hume Center for National Security and Technology and the Bradley Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Virginia Tech.
Associate Professor and Center for Embedded Systems for Critical Applications Director Patrick Schaumont welcomed the attendees, followed by plenary session speaker Charles Clancy, associate professor and director of the Hume Center, who talked about research directions in security.
Three morning research sessions covered the topics of secure design, applications, and secure design methods. In addition to Schaumont, six other Virginia Tech researchers from the Center for Embedded Systems for Critical Applications presented brief overviews of their work: Professor Michael Hsiao; Associate Professors Lynn Abbott, Leyla Nazhandali, Jerry Park, and Yaling Yang; and Assistant Professor Chao Wang.
In addition to the seven faculty members, eight Ph.D. students from the center presented their work through a poster and demonstration session. In another special session, attending companies introduced themselves to the students for internship and employment opportunities. The simulcast to Blacksburg ensured that all students in the Center for Embedded Systems for Critical Applications were able to follow these presentations.
Every year, about five Ph.D. students graduate from the center. In addition, the Center for Embedded Systems for Critical Applications offers an Industry Affiliate Program that allows privileged access to collaborations with faculty, students, and their research results.
During the afternoon, participants were offered four parallel tutorial sessions from which to choose: Introduction to Side Channel Analysis; Software Testing and Verification; Physically Unclonable Functions; and Wireless Security.
Following the event, Schaumont said he was very pleased with the number of people who registered and attended the event. “Our participants were able to network with faculty and students within the accessible environment of the Virginia Tech Research Center in Arlington. We forged valuable relationships on the topic of embedded security and we look forward to converting these into research collaborations and Industry Affiliate Program memberships," Schaumont said.
"And," he added, "we're very happy with the support from the National Capital Region and its capable staff in the Arlington building."
