ESSAIM-CPS - Embedded, Safe, and Secure AI-Based Methods for Interacting Cyber-Physical Systems: Applications in Robotic Squads

Ionela ProdanIonela Prodan,
Associate Professor, HDR, LCIS, and Esisar at Grenoble INP, University of Grenoble Alpes, France
ionela.prodan@lcis.grenoble-inp.fr

DESCRIPTION

In modern applications, robotic squads—collaborative groups of terrestrial and aerial robots—are deployed in exploration and monitoring missions, ranging from industrial inspections to disaster response and space exploration. These missions rely on interacting cyber-physical systems (CPSs), in which robots communicate and operate through sensors and controllers as embedded systems. ESSAIM-CPS develops innovative, embedded, safe, and secure AI-based algorithms to ensure autonomous, efficient, and resilient multi-robot operations. By integrating robust control, cybersecurity, AI, and RF-based wireless communication systems, ESSAIM-CPS significantly advances CPS technology for both research and industry, accelerating France’s digital transformation by 2030. ESSAIM-CPS fosters interdisciplinary collaboration at LCIS-Grenoble INP, driving innovation and offering a rich educational environment for student training at both Grenoble INP-Esisar and IUT Valence, UGA, across embedded systems, robotics, and AI.

ACTIVITIES

  1. PhD student working on “Dynamic exploration and containment for interacting hierarchical large-scale multi-agent systems” in collaboration with ONERA, Palaiseau
  2. PhD student working on "Cross-layer intrusion detection in the wireless network of a drone swarm"
  3. PhD / Postdoc working on “Securing and Enhancing the Resilience of AI-Based Embedded Control Modules for Autonomous Drone Squads in Hostile Environments”
  4. Various internships on related topics throughout the duration of the project.


EVENTS

TrustRobotics Challenge at CSAW’25 Europe
Website

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SELECTED LIST OF PUBLICATIONS

  • HT Do, F Blanchini, I Prodan: “A Low-Computational-Complexity Controller for Quadcopter Position Tracking with Guarantees of Stability and Convoluted Input Constraints,” European Journal of Control, 101236, 2025.
  • BM Bălăceanu, F Stoican, BD Ciubotaru, I Prodan: Derivative-free Kalman filtering for a six-wheeled rover, European Journal of Control, 101334, 2025
  • Cong Khanh Dinh, Vincent Marguet, Julian Barreiro-Gomez, Ionela Prodan, Carlos Ocampo-Martinez, Nicanor Quijano: “B-spline-Based Mechanism Design in Population Games for Distributed Evolutionary Dynamics Formation Control,” 2025 https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=5276334

CHAIR PRESENTATION

ESSAIM-CPS Chair Presentation

License:

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Published on September 28, 2026
Updated on September 28, 2026