Research topics and methodology
The Automation group, better known as COSERITY (COmplex systems & SEcuRITY) Lab, is marked by an innovative approach that combines theoretical research activities with practical technology solutions in a wide range of domains, such as automation technologies, industrial automation, control and robotics, biomedical engineering, computer science and, primarily, Critical Infrastructures.
In other words, the group applies tools of systems theory and automatic control to understand, model and influence the behaviour of complex systems, whose elements are highly interconnected, in order to develop innovative solutions able to improve their functionality and features.
The group is also involved in several national and international research projects, internationally recognized as a standard of excellence on subjects connected to Complex Systems, Homeland Security and Critical Infrastructures. The development of solutions that are not only efficient and effective but also safe and “acceptable” for the user and sustainable for the environment, is what distinguishes the COSERITY lab from other laboratories.
Thanks to the large experiences acquired over more than ten years of research in the field of critical infrastructure protection and security, the COSERITY Lab jointly with University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome created in 2009 a first-of-its-kind experience in Italy and Europe, a Post Graduate Program (PGP) in Homeland Security. It aims at training security experts able to cope with the actual socio-technological threats of modern infrastructures.
Collaborations with other Research Centers
- University of Malaga, Network, Information and Computer Security Lab - Spain
- University of Cyprus, Center of Intelligent Systems & Network (KIOS) - Cyprus
- EU Commission, Joint Research Center
- University of Oklahoma, School of Industrial and Systems Engineering - USA
- Old Dominion University - USA
- Gjovik University College - Norway
- University of London, Royal Holloway - UK
- Universidad de Navarra, Departamento de Organización Industrial - Spain
- ENEA (Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development)
- Università di Sannio, Group for Research on Automatic Control Engineering - Italy
- Roma Tre Università, Engineering Department - Italy
- Università di Palermo - Italy
- Federico II Università di Napoli - Italy
- Inter-University National Consortium for Transportation and Logistics (NITEL).
Laboratories
The Complex Systems & Security Lab (www.coseritylab.it) directed by Prof. Gabriele Oliva is one of the leading research institutions in Homeland Security and Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) in Italy. In this field, research activities focus on the development of innovative and strong multi-disciplinary methodologies, tools and technologies to support the study of large infrastructures in terms of their behavior, threats, vulnerabilities and management.
The lab, inaugurated in 2009, is composed of 16 high-performance computerized workstations, as for example the European project FACIES, a water system emulator that has been assembled; the system is used for research in the field of water systems, industrial automation and large infrastructure safety. The laboratory is also provided with two terrestrial mobile robot platforms, equipped with various localization sensors and a flying mobile platform, better known as a drone, employed for research activities in the field of emergency and safety contexts.
The development and rapid prototyping of different solutions is supported by our state-of-the-art rapid-prototyping systems and by the group’s competencies in various programming environments and languages (MATLAB, LabView, C++, C#, etc.).
