Lanier Watkins

Johns Hopkins University, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Lanier Watkins is a leading researcher at the intersection of cybersecurity and autonomous systems, with a core focus on assured autonomy and the security of cyber-physical systems. His work critically examines the hidden vulnerabilities within intelligent, self-governing devices, from household robots to autonomous vehicles. A major contribution is his development of a "black box" approach to inferring, characterizing, and breaking native device tracking autonomy, a seminal paper (2020, 5 citations) that exposes how seemingly secure autonomous systems can be reverse-engineered and compromised. This research has profound implications for privacy and safety in an increasingly automated world. Watkins also co-authored the foundational "Assured Autonomy Survey" (2022, 2 citations), which provides a comprehensive roadmap for building trustworthy and resilient autonomous systems. By bridging the gap between theoretical security models and real-world device behavior, his work is essential for engineers and policymakers seeking to ensure that the next generation of smart machines—from drones to self-driving cars—are not only intelligent but also secure and reliable.