The blockchain: a new framework for robotic swarm systems

TL;DR

This paper explores how integrating blockchain technology with robotic swarm systems can enhance security, decision-making, behavior differentiation, and business models, addressing key challenges for real-world deployment.

Contribution

It introduces a novel framework combining blockchain with swarm robotics, providing solutions for security, autonomy, and economic models in robotic swarms.

Findings

Blockchain enhances security in swarm systems

Decentralized decision-making is improved with blockchain consensus

New business models for robotic swarms are proposed

Abstract

Swarms of robots will revolutionize many industrial applications, from targeted material delivery to precision farming. However, several of the heterogeneous characteristics that make them ideal for certain future applications --- robot autonomy, decentralized control, collective emergent behavior, etc. --- hinder the evolution of the technology from academic institutions to real-world problems. Blockchain, an emerging technology originated in the Bitcoin field, demonstrates that by combining peer-to-peer networks with cryptographic algorithms a group of agents can reach an agreement on a particular state of affairs and record that agreement without the need for a controlling authority. The combination of blockchain with other distributed systems, such as robotic swarm systems, can provide the necessary capabilities to make robotic swarm operations more secure, autonomous, flexible and even profitable. This work explains how blockchain technology can provide innovative solutions to four emergent issues in the swarm robotics research field. New security, decision making, behavior differentiation and business models for swarm robotic systems are described by providing case scenarios and examples. Finally, limitations and possible future problems that arise from the combination of these two technologies are described.