Cyber-Physical System (CPS)

A cyber-physical system is an integration of computation, networking, and physical processes in which embedded controllers monitor and command mechanical or electrical equipment, the physical state feeding back to the software. Shipboard examples include integrated bridge systems, dynamic positioning, propulsion and steering control, ballast-water and cargo automation, and machinery condition-monitoring. CPS exposure is why IACS UR E26 and E27, applicable to ships contracted for construction on or after 1 July 2024, treat onboard operational-technology networks as safety-critical and require security-by-design across the equipment lifecycle.