Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

Tamara Bonaci is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of cybersecurity and robotics, with a particular focus on the security vulnerabilities of teleoperated and autonomous robotic systems. Her work has fundamentally shaped our understanding of how remotely operated robots — especially those used in surgical and rescue contexts — can be targeted by malicious actors, and what can be done to defend them. Bonaci's most influential contributions examine cyber threats against teleoperated surgical robots, with her 2015 studies on denial-of-service attacks and broader security vulnerabilities accumulating over 60 citations each, establishing her as a leading voice in this emerging field. Her early 2012 work on rescue robotic systems anticipated threats that have only grown more relevant as autonomous systems proliferate across military, medical, and emergency response domains. Beyond threat analysis, Bonaci has moved toward developing practical defenses, including a novel continuous operator authentication system leveraging Hidden Markov Models to verify the identity of human operators in real time — a critical safeguard against unauthorized system access. Her 2017 survey on cyber-security in robotics and autonomous systems further demonstrates her commitment to synthesizing and advancing this vital research area. Her work serves as essential reading for anyone building or deploying robotic systems in high-stakes environments.