The demand for delivery drones is increasing. However, safety and user data protection concerns are growing as well. Thus, the US government considers blockchain applications will add more trust to the commercial drones industry.
The US Department of Transportation (DoT) announced a report recently where it reviewed the usage of blockchain for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). According to it, delivery drones might be more trusted if they operate on blockchain technology.
The report states that tracing and tracking individual drones via blockchain might help ensure safer logistics. Due to its decentralized nature blockchain provides robust and trusted data that could help solve current challenges the industry meets.
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It is currently an issue to securely manage UAS clusters and ensure safe air traffic especially near high-risk areas such as airports or crowded territories. Furthermore,
trusted information can also be helpful in addressing challenges such as flight safety and security, monitoring, and control of flight violations, privacy, and surveillance considerations.
According to the document, blockchain technology has been taken into account while considering the unmanned aircraft system operating framework:
Blockchain technology is being looked on to deliver a framework that can be used by stakeholders in the commercial drone industry.
The Department of Transportation also claims that use of blockchain can ensure security and provide for identity management. Furthermore, it could provide a supporting role in aircraft traffic management, unmanned aircraft system conflict management and flight authorization.
Blockchain to support delivery drone operations
According to authorities blockchain technology could be used to address delivery drones’ trust and integrity issues. Flight data recorders (also known as black boxes) might provide real-time data that could help investigators learn what a UAS was doing before any possible incident.
The officials claim that The Federal Aviation Industry (FAA) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) already lead an industry-wide standardization effort for drone traffic management. Meanwhile, private companies use blockchain to enable delivery drone tracking and flight data review.
