A1 Journal article (refereed)
Blockchain-Empowered Drone Networks : Architecture, Features, and Future (2021)

Chang, Z., Guo, W., Guo, X., Chen, T., Min, G., Abualnaja, K. M., & Mumtaz, S. (2021). Blockchain-Empowered Drone Networks : Architecture, Features, and Future. IEEE Network, 35(1), 86-93. https://doi.org/10.1109/MNET.011.2000202

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Chang, Zheng; Guo, Wenlong; Guo, Xijuan; Chen, Tao; Min, Geyong; Abualnaja, Khamael M.; Mumtaz, Shahid

Journal or series: IEEE Network

ISSN: 0890-8044

eISSN: 1558-156X

Publication year: 2021

Volume: 35

Issue number: 1

Pages range: 86-93

Publisher: IEEE

Publication country: United States

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/MNET.011.2000202

Publication open access: Not open

Publication channel open access: 

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/93691

Abstract

The future mobile communication system is expected to provide ubiquitous connectivity and unprecedented services over billions of devices. The flying drone, also known as unmanned aerial vehicle, is prominent in its flexibility and low cost, and has emerged as a significant network entity to realize such ambitious targets. However, the distributed nature makes the operation of a large-scale drone network confront many challenges, such as vulnerability to security threats and privacy leakage. To address these problems, in this article, we propose to utilize the blockchain concept to the development of drone network. Under the proposed blockchain-empowered drone networks (BeDrone), drones that are deployed for service provisioning can act as the miners of blockchain, and acquire the computing resources from each other or an edge computing node whenever needed. Recommendations and future research directions for designing BeDrone are introduced with a focus on the game theoretic incentive mechanism for resource allocation and acquisition. Performance evaluations are conducted to illustrate the benefits of the proposed architecture on developing blockchain-envisioned drones.

Keywords: wireless networks; wireless data transmission; unmanned aerial vehicles; distributed systems; blockchains

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2021

JUFO rating: 2