Tuskegee University Receives NSF Grant to Advance AI-Driven Cyber-Physical Systems Security
Tuskegee University has received a $449,999 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to support research aimed at improving the cybersecurity and resilience of cloud-based cyber-physical systems (CBCPS). The three-year initiative will investigate how artificial intelligence can help detect, prevent, and respond to cyberattacks targeting interconnected digital and physical infrastructure.
The project, titled Research Initiation Award: Integrating AI for Resilient Cloud-Based Cyber-Physical Systems, is led by Mohammad Rahman, assistant professor of computer science at Tuskegee University.
Cloud-based cyber-physical systems combine physical devices, communication networks, and cloud computing resources to support applications such as smart homes, medical robotics, industrial manufacturing, and energy grids. While these technologies provide greater computing capacity, scalability, and real-time data processing, their interconnected nature also creates additional cybersecurity vulnerabilities.
The research will explore how AI-driven approaches can strengthen defenses against attacks that could disrupt essential services, compromise sensitive information, or threaten public safety. By improving the ability of these systems to anticipate and respond to cyber threats, the project aims to support more secure and reliable operation of critical infrastructure.
Beyond its technical objectives, the grant will expand Tuskegee's research and educational capabilities in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, cloud computing, and cyber-physical systems. The initiative will also create opportunities for multidisciplinary collaboration and student participation in emerging cybersecurity research.
The award builds on the university's expanding cybersecurity education programs, including its recently introduced Ph.D. program in Information Systems and Computer Security and specialized coursework in cybersecurity and data science.
For the CPS research community, the project highlights the importance of integrating intelligent threat detection and response mechanisms into increasingly connected physical systems, where cybersecurity failures can have consequences extending beyond the digital environment.
Read the original article: https://www.tuskegee.edu/news/2026/10/Tuskegee-University-Awarded-449,999-NSF-Grant-to-Advance-AI-Driven-Cyberattack-Defense-and-Response.html