This paper presents a blockchain enabled secure data acquisition scheme utilizing an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) swarm where data are collected from the Internet of Things (IoT) devices and subsequently, forwarded to the nearest server through the UAV swarm. Before initiating data acquisition, the UAV swarm shares a shared key with the IoT devices in order to maintain communications. However, prior to transmitting data, the IoT devices encrypt the data and forward it to the UAV swarm. Upon receiving the data, the UAV swarm implements a two-phase validation utilizing the π-hash bloom filter and the digital signature algorithm to validate the sender; in addition, prior to forwarding data to the nearest server, it performs encryption. However, before adding data in blockchain, consent from all validators is required. Finally, the data are stored in blockchain with the approval of validators. A security analysis is performed to demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed scheme. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed scheme is manifested through the implementation and simulation. The security analysis and the performance results show that UAV assist the IoT devices both in terms of connectivity and energy consumption, and provides security against the threats mentioned in the paper.
Ultra-dense wireless networks require on-demand nodes which can trust each other and relay information despite the difference in their service providers. This paper presents the secure utilization of drones as on-demand nodes for inter-service operability between multiple vendors by exploiting the features of the blockchain. Various components and strategies for driving blockchain-based drones are also presented. Further, this paper features the threat implications of the blockchain-based drones and compares the deployment issues with the centralized and traditional drone-assisted wireless networks.
Abstract : Authentication is deemed to be a critical function in the operation of tactical wireless ad hoc networks. The dynamic nature and unpredictability of these self - organizing networks requires that new security protocols be deployed that allow users to efficiently gain access to network resources without the burden of a centralized security infrastructure. Authentication protocols based on Zero - Knowledge Proof (ZKP) of identity schemes provide a means for establishing mutual trust between network entities. While many papers have looked at the virtues of ZKP - based authentication protocols from an academic perspective, little work has been carried out to actually deploy and test the protocols in fielded wireless networks. In this paper we present lessons - learned regarding the installation of ZKP - based authentication protocol on processing hardware designed for deployment on AFRL's small unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) test bed.