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Securing Smart Grid Enabled Home Area Networks with Retro-Reflective Visible Light Communication
Mathew Salas1, Sihua Shao1, Adrian Salustri1
1Department of Electrical Engineering, New Mexico Tech, Socorro, NM 87801, USA.
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)
|February 11, 2023
Summary
This study proposes a secure, low-cost method using retro-reflector based visible light communication (Retro-VLC) to protect sensitive data exchange in smart home area networks (HANs). Retro-VLC enhances cybersecurity for smart appliances and electric vehicle charging, reducing risks and emissions.
Area of Science:
- Cybersecurity
- Wireless Communication
- Smart Grid Technology
Background:
- Smart home area networks (HANs) manage smart appliances and electric vehicle charging for grid efficiency.
- Current radio-based HANs are vulnerable to cyber attacks due to wide signal interception.
- Securing sensitive data exchange is crucial for reliable smart grid operations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose and validate a low-cost, secure communication solution for sensitive data exchange in HANs.
- To explore the use of retro-reflector based visible light communication (Retro-VLC) for enhanced HAN security.
- To assess the feasibility of Retro-VLC for critical tasks like key management and mutual authentication.
Main Methods:
- Developed a multi-pixel Retro-VLC link prototype supporting quadrature amplitude modulation.
- Analyzed, simulated, and experimentally evaluated the bit error rate (BER) of the Retro-VLC link.
- Implemented a heterogeneous Retro-VLC + Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) connection using socket programming.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated the feasibility of Retro-VLC for secure, low-volume data exchange in HANs.
- Measured working range, sniffing range, and key exchange latency for the Retro-VLC system.
- Validated the effectiveness of Retro-VLC in mitigating cybersecurity risks associated with traditional HANs.
Conclusions:
- Retro-VLC offers a viable and secure alternative for sensitive data transmission in smart grid enabled HANs.
- The proposed solution enhances the security of smart appliances and electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
- This approach contributes to lower energy bills and reduced greenhouse gas emissions through improved grid management.
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