Mycelial Federated Intrusion Detect System

Modern aircraft are evolving into highly intelligent, interconnected systems, leveraging Electronic Flight Bags (EFBs), Aircraft Interface Devices (AIDs), and real-time data exchange for enhanced operational efficiency. However, this digital transformation expands the attack surface, exposing aviation networks to sophisticated cyber threats that traditional security models—reliant on centralized monitoring and predefined attack signatures—fail to address. The Mycelial Federated Intrusion Detection System (MyFIDES), powered by the AeroShield Federated Learning System (AFLS), introduces a decentralized, AI-driven cybersecurity framework designed to detect and mitigate emerging threats in networked aircraft environments. MyFIDES leverages federated learning (FL) to train machine learning models directly on EFBs and AIDs without transmitting sensitive operational data to a centralized server. This approach preserves data privacy, reduces reliance on continuous cloud connectivity, and enables real-time anomaly detection even in low-bandwidth aviation environments. MyFIDES will integrate a lightweight intrusion detection agent with real-time streaming analytics, utilizing Apache Flink and MQTT-based communication to detect, classify, and respond to threats autonomously. The system will feature tamper-proof event logging, secure aircraft-to-ground (A2G) and aircraft-to-aircraft (A2A) communication, and a user-friendly cybersecurity dashboard for airline security teams. The Phase I project will establish MyFIDES’ feasibility through a simulated EFB/AID environment, hosted on DigitalOcean cloud resources and commodity hardware. The system will be evaluated against multiple attack scenarios, including GPS spoofing, malware injection, and unauthorized access attempts. In collaboration with Jackson State University and industry experts, MyFIDES will demonstrate a scalable, adaptive cybersecurity solution that enhances aviation resilience against next-generation cyber threats

The Mycelial Federated Intrusion Detection System (MyFIDES) has significant applications in NASA’s aerospace cybersecurity efforts, particularly in securing autonomous flight systems, space communications, and high-performance computing (HPC) networks. As NASA expands its reliance on interconnected spacecraft, UAVs, and next-generation Avionics & Sensors, the risk of cyber threats increases, necessitating real-time, decentralized security solutions. MyFIDES aligns with NASA’s mission directives by offering a federated learning-based intrusion detection system capable of protecting onboard Avionics & Sensors, satellite communications, and ground control networks from evolving cyber threats. By leveraging AI-driven anomaly detection and distributed cybersecurity intelligence, MyFIDES ensures secure data exchange between spacecraft, mission control, and autonomous systems, even in low-latency or intermittent connectivity environments. Potential applications include: -Protecting autonomous spacecraft and planetary exploration vehicles by deploying MyFIDES on embedded flight computers to detect cyber intrusions in real time. -Enhancing security for NASA’s high-performance computing clusters, used in aerodynamics modeling and space mission simulations. -Safeguarding satellite networks and deep-space communication relays by preventing GPS spoofing, data injection attacks, and unauthorized access. By integrating MyFIDES into NASA’s cybersecurity infrastructure, the agency can fortify mission-critical systems, ensuring resilient, adaptive cybersecurity for future space exploration and deep-space communication networks. Beyond its applications in aerospace, the Mycelial Federated Intrusion Detection System (MyFIDES) presents significant commercialization opportunities across multiple industries that rely on interconnected, high-stakes networks. The increasing integration of artificial intelligence, real-time data processing, and edge computing in critical infrastructure has made cybersecurity a primary concern, particularly in industries where centralized security models are no longer sufficient to combat evolving threats. The aviation sector stands to benefit significantly from MyFIDES, as modern aircraft now function as networked computing nodes exchanging vast amounts of sensitive data between onboard systems, air traffic control, and ground operations. By enabling decentralized, AI-driven threat detection, MyFIDES provides a proactive security layer for commercial airlines, private aviation, and military aircraft, ensuring real-time defense against cyber intrusions, GPS spoofing, and unauthorized system access. Beyond aviation, the transportation and logistics sector—including maritime and railway systems—can leverage MyFIDES to secure autonomous navigation networks and vehicle-to-infrastructure communication. The financial and healthcare industries, where protecting distributed digital assets and sensitive information is crucial, also present viable commercialization pathways. MyFIDES' federated learning approach, which eliminates the need for centralized data collection, makes it particularly appealing for sectors concerned with privacy-preserving AI and real-time threat detection. As cybersecurity threats continue to escalate, MyFIDES offers a transformative solution that combines AI-driven intelligence, privacy protection, and real-time adaptive security, making it a valuable asset for securing complex, high-risk digital ecosystems across industries.

This is a mature technology (TRL 7+) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.

None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.