CyberForce in Kinematics: Modelling the Impact of Cyberattacks on FLL Missions

The evolution of robotics and automation in STEM education has prompted growing interest in their security vulnerabilities. This study introduces the concept of CyberForce in kinematics, which is defined as a disruptive influence exerted on a moving robotic system through cyberattacks. While traditional physical forces are typically modeled through established Newtonian dynamics, we propose that cyberattacks can cause a measurable delay or deviation in a system’s performance, especially in tasks where reliability and timing are critical. Our research focuses on the 2022 First Lego League (FLL) Superpowered Missions, a scenario that challenges Mindstorm-built robots to navigate simulated energy-saving tasks [1]. By combining advanced cybersecurity techniques with internet access robotics, this study aims to show the tangible effects that harmful digital interference can have on real-world motion, challenging the competition rules adopted by FLL for over a decade. The experiment involved using a LEGO robotics kit to complete energy-themed missions (e.g., mounting, transporting, or releasing objects) within a constrained environment. We conducted two trials: (1) a baseline run in which the robot operated without external interference and (2) a targeted run where Bluetooth-based cyberattacks were launched from a Kali Linux system [2]. The cyberattack focused on disrupting key control signals, introducing a delay in motor responses and sensor feedback loops. The robot completed five assigned missions in a pre-defined window in the baseline run, where the robot’s velocity in each mission is recorded, and then its kinetic force is calculated. Under the cyberattack condition, a new kinetic force is calculated, where the force difference emphasizes the destructive influence of unauthorized digital intrusions on operational efficiency. In this short paper, we adopted a Modeling Instruction approach throughout the study to make sure that the learning process was constructive and iterative, where we formulated preliminary models to hypothesize how cyberattacks might make an impact within a kinematic framework [3]. The model was refined quantitatively through systematic data collection - comprising the mass of the robot, its velocity when each mission is completed, the robot’s location and timing logs, force discrepancies, and observed behavioral patterns. We then integrated real-time control signal disruptions into a kinematic equation set, thereby capturing the "CyberForce" as an additional term that effectively alters the velocity of the robotic system. By iterating between empirical observations and mathematical modeling, we derived a generic function encapsulating the influence of cyberattacks on robotic motion. Our findings reinforce the importance of recognizing digital threats not merely as abstract or external issues but as factors that can be systematically analyzed and measured. The proposed CyberForce model merges cybersecurity, engineering, and physics principles for interdisciplinary studies. Future work may extend the CyberForce concepts to other FLL missions, such as the most recent FLL submerged missions, and explore more sophisticated attack vectors, paving the way for theoretical exploration and practical application in robotics and cybersecurity.