Abstract
Recently, the interest around the Blockchain concept has grown faster and, as a consequence, several studies about the possibility of exploiting such technology in different application domains have been conducted. Most of these studies highlighted the benefits that the use of the blockchain could bring in those contexts where integrity and authenticity of the data are important, e.g., for reasons linked to regulations about consumers’ healthcare. In such cases, it would be important to collect data, coming in real-time through sensors, and then store them in the blockchain, so that they can become immutable and tamper-proof. In this paper, the design and development of a software framework that allows Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices to interact directly with an Ethereum-based blockchain are reported. The proposed solution represents an alternative way for integrating a wide category of IoT devices without relying on a centralized intermediary and third-party services. The main application scenario for which the project has been conceived regards food-chain traceability in the Industry 4.0 domain. Indeed, the designed system has been integrated into the depiction of a use case for monitoring the temperature of fish products within a warehouse and during the delivery process.
Highlights
During the last ten years, the industrial processes commonly applied in any business field, from manufacturing to agriculture and many others, have been subject to a radical evolution led by the arising of new technologies interconnecting the digital and the physical world and making up the Cyber-Physical-Systems (CPSs)
The use-case demonstrated how the fish tracking process, carried out combining both Blockchain and IoT devices, can enrich the amount of information that is shared with final consumers guaranteeing their authenticity and integrity without relying on a centralized trust authority
Summarizing, the integration between two emerging and disruptive technologies such as Internet-of-Things devices and BC-based infrastructure for decentralized applications can bring benefits in a very wide variety of fields, spanning far beyond the simple use case presented in this document
Summary
During the last ten years, the industrial processes commonly applied in any business field, from manufacturing to agriculture and many others, have been subject to a radical evolution led by the arising of new technologies interconnecting the digital and the physical world and making up the Cyber-Physical-Systems (CPSs). CPS consists of a system of collaborating computational elements controlling physical entities, in which mechanical and electronic systems are embedded and networked using software components. They use a shared knowledge and information of processes to cooperate for accomplishing a specific task [1,2]. A possible integration strategy that combines both IoT and BC for improving business processes is presented. The final result of this study is a blockchain-enabled gateway for IoT devices to be integrated in an Industry 4.0 domain and in many other scenarios in which the combination of both technologies brings advantages to both business processes and customer satisfaction.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
