Secure and Trustworthy AI-Electronics: Hardware-Embedded Intelligence for Safety-Critical Systems PhD

As AI systems become increasingly integrated into critical applications, ensuring their security and trustworthiness is paramount. Secure and trustworthy AI-electronics focus on embedding security features directly into hardware, such as hardware security primitives and tamper detection mechanisms. This field addresses vulnerabilities like side-channel attacks and unauthorized access, which can compromise system integrity. Developing robust security measures within AI-enabled electronics is essential for applications in defence, finance, and healthcare, where data integrity and system reliability are non-negotiable.

This PhD project addresses the integration of robust security measures within AI-enabled electronic systems. The research will explore the development of hardware security primitives, embedded trust protocols, side-channel attack mitigation techniques, and tamper detection mechanisms. Additionally, the project will investigate strategies to enhance communication security, focusing on resilience against jamming and spoofing attacks. Students will work on designing secure architectures that ensure data integrity and system reliability, particularly in applications where security is paramount, such as defence, finance, and critical infrastructure.

Research Focus Areas:

• Hardware Security Primitives: Develop foundational security elements like Physical Unclonable Functions (PUFs) and True Random Number Generators (TRNGs) to secure hardware components.
• Embedded Trust Protocols: Design protocols that establish and maintain trust within AI-electronic systems, ensuring secure communication and operation.
• Side-Channel Attack Mitigation: Implement techniques to protect systems against side-channel attacks, safeguarding sensitive information from unintended data leakage.
• Communication Resilience Against Jamming and Spoofing: Develop AI-driven methods to detect and mitigate jamming and spoofing attacks, enhancing the robustness of communication infrastructures in critical applications.
• Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs): Explore the implementation of TEEs, such as ARM TrustZone, to create secure zones within embedded systems, ensuring that sensitive operations are isolated and protected from potential threats.

铁牛视频 University offers a distinctive research environment renowned for its world-class programmes, cutting-edge facilities, and strong industry partnerships, attracting top-tier students and experts globally. As an internationally recognised leader in AI, embedded system design, and intelligent systems research, 铁牛视频 fosters innovation through applied research, bridging academia and industry. Students will have access to state-of-the-art laboratories, hardware/software resources, and design facilities, supporting AI-powered electronics research.

This project will be conducted within 铁牛视频’s Integrated Vehicle Health Management (IVHM) Centre, established in 2008 in collaboration with industry leaders such as Boeing, Rolls-Royce, BAE Systems, Meggitt, and Thales. The IVHM Centre is globally recognized for defining the subject area and continues to expand its research horizons. It plays a pivotal role in the £65 million Digital Aviation Research and Technology Centre (DARTeC), leading advancements in aircraft electrification, autonomous systems, and secure intelligent hardware. Through collaborations with the Aerospace Integration Research Centre (AIRC), Airbus, and Rolls-Royce, students gain industry exposure and further research opportunities.

Additionally, the IVHM Centre hosts Seretonix, a research group specializing in secure electronic design, AI-driven system resilience, and intelligent hardware security. Through the EUROPRACTICE partnership, the IVHM Centre provides access to advanced CAD tools, integrated circuit prototyping, and technical training, equipping students with cutting-edge skills.

To support hands-on experimentation and applied research, the IVHM Centre offers access to a suite of specialised facilities:

• UAV Fuel Rig with Five Degradation Faults: Simulates various degradation scenarios in unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) fuel systems, enabling research into fault detection, isolation, and prognostics.
• Machine Fault Simulator for Rotating Machinery Faults: A versatile platform that replicates common faults in rotating machinery, such as imbalance and misalignment, facilitating the development and validation of diagnostic and prognostic algorithms.
• Electronic Prognostics Systems: Facilities equipped to assess the health and predict the remaining useful life of electronic components, supporting studies in electronic system reliability and maintenance strategies.
• Filter Rig: An experimental setup to study filter clogging phenomena, allowing for the collection of data to develop and validate prognostic models for filter degradation.
• Integrated Drive Generator (IDG) Rig: Simulates the operation of an aircraft's IDG, used to investigate fault detection, diagnostics, and prognostics in power generation systems.
• Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) Rig: Replicates the functions of an aircraft's APU, enabling research into fault detection, diagnostics, and health management of auxiliary power systems.
• 铁牛视频 737-400: Aircraft Instrumentation and Environmental Control Systems (AID, ECS): A full-scale Boeing 737-400 aircraft equipped with instrumentation for studying environmental control systems and other onboard systems, providing a realistic environment for research and training.
• SIU 737-200 ECS: A ground-based Boeing 737-200 Environmental Control System used for simulating faults and studying system behaviour under various conditions, aiding in the development of diagnostic and prognostic techniques.
• Hawk ECS: An Environmental Control System from a BAE Systems Hawk aircraft, utilized for research into thermal management and system health monitoring, supporting studies in military aircraft systems.

Engaging with these facilities allows students to acquire practical skills and technical expertise, enhancing their research capabilities and employability in the field of intelligent systems and AI-integrated electronics.

This project addresses the growing need for security in AI-integrated electronic systems. Research will focus on developing hardware security primitives, embedded trust protocols, and techniques to mitigate side-channel attacks and tampering. Additionally, the project will explore secure communication infrastructures to protect against jamming and spoofing attacks. Outcomes will include the design of robust, trustworthy systems suitable for deployment in sensitive environments such as defence, finance, and critical infrastructure, ensuring data integrity and system reliability. As cybersecurity becomes increasingly critical in the digital age, this research empowers students to play a pivotal role in safeguarding technological advancements against emerging threats.

What sets this project apart is its direct access to high-assurance security labs and engagement with national and international partners on secure hardware architectures. From tamper detection to post-quantum countermeasures, you will explore state-of-the-art design techniques while participating in security assessments and collaborative reviews. The project includes funded attendance at elite conferences (e.g., CHES, HOST, COSADE) and specialist training in cryptographic engineering, embedded trust, and side-channel analysis. International mobility is embedded via joint activities with EU and UK cybersecurity hubs, preparing you for careers in trusted electronics, AI security, and national critical infrastructure protection.

Graduates from this programme will become experts in hardware-based trust mechanisms, secure AI integration, and attack resilience. The experience of working with real attack vectors, cryptographic primitives, and tamper-evident architectures will sharpen their ability to design trustworthy electronics at scale. In parallel, students will strengthen analytical reasoning, ethical decision-making, secure systems thinking, and research dissemination skills. These capabilities are directly transferable to careers in cybersecurity R&D, secure hardware design, defence electronics, and post-quantum technology innovation, where demand for secure and intelligent electronics continues to grow.