BC-IoDT: Blockchain-based Framework for Authentication in Internet of Drone Things

TL;DR

This paper proposes a blockchain-based authentication framework for Internet of Drone Things, utilizing IPFS and PoA consensus to enhance security and efficiency, while addressing energy and data management challenges.

Contribution

It introduces a novel low-energy clustering protocol and integrates blockchain with IPFS and PoA for secure, efficient drone node authentication and data handling.

Findings

System functions effectively and efficiently in simulations.

IPFS with AES-128 enhances data security and reduces storage costs.

PoA consensus reduces computational resource requirements.

Abstract

We leverage blockchain technology for drone node authentication in internet of drone things (IoDT). During the authentication procedure, the credentials of drone nodes are examined to remove malicious nodes from the system. In IoDT, drones are responsible for gathering data and transmitting it to cluster heads (CHs) for further processing. The CH collects and organizes data. Due to computational load, their energy levels rapidly deplete. To overcome this problem, we present a low-energy adaptive clustering hierarchy (R2D) protocol based on distance, degree, and residual energy. R2D is used to replace CHs with normal nodes based on the biggest residual energy, the degree, and the shortest distance from BS. The cost of keeping a big volume of data on the blockchain is high. We employ the Interplanetary File System (IPFS), to address this issue. Moreover, IPFS protects user data using the industry-standard encryption technique AES-128. This standard compares well to other current encryption methods. Using a consensus mechanism based on proof of work requires a high amount of computing resources for transaction verification. The suggested approach leverages a consensus mechanism known as proof of authority (PoA) to address this problem . The results of the simulations indicate that the suggested system model functions effectively and efficiently. A formal security analysis is conducted to assess the smart contract's resistance to attacks.