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Cyber-Physical Systems

Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) comprise interacting digital, analog, physical, and human components engineered for function through integrated physics and logic. These systems will provide the foundation of our critical infrastructure, form the basis of emerging and future smart services, and improve our quality of life in many areas. Cyber-physical systems will bring advances in personalized health care, emergency response, traffic flow management

Welcome to the NIST Cyber-Physical Systems website

Cyber-physical systems (CPS) will bring advances in personalized health care, emergency response, traffic flow management, and electric power generation and delivery, as well as in many other areas now just being envisioned. CPS comprise interacting digital, analog, physical, and human components engineered for function through integrated physics and logic. Other phrases that you might hear when discussing these and related CPS technologies include:

  • Internet of Things (IoT)
  • Industrial Internet
  • Smart Cities
  • Smart Grid
  • "Smart" Anything (e.g., Cars, Buildings, Homes, Manufacturing, Hospitals, Appliances)

NIST Cyber-Physical Systems Program

The NIST Engineering Laboratory, through its Cyber-Physical Systems and Smart Grid Program Office, is leading a NIST-wide program to advance Cyber-Physical Systems. Our program is moving forward on four fronts:

  • NIST, in collaboration with stakeholders through the Cyber-Physical Systems Public Working Group (CPS PWG), has developed and published the NIST Framework for Cyber-Physical Systems. NIST is further developing the CPS Framework concepts of “facets” and “aspects,” in particular trustworthiness, which is the combination of security, privacy, safety, reliability, and resilience. 
  • NIST is conducting this year’s Global City Teams Challenge as the Smart and Secure Cities and Communities Challenge in partnership with the Department of Homeland Security.  This effort is emphasizing the importance of addressing security and privacy within smart city environments. Nearly 100 teams or "action clusters" are pursuing projects related to energy, transportation, public safety, and other key sectors.
  • The International Technical Working Group on IoT-Enabled Smart Cities Framework (IES-Cities Framework) has published its framework document that will help cities employ interoperable and scalable smart city solutions that will meet the needs of their communities.
  • CPS research and standards development are carried out in multiple NIST Laboratories, including programs in advanced manufacturing, cybersecurity, buildings and structures, disaster resilience, and smart grid. 

 

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