The evolution of autonomous systems is reverberating through all industry sectors. Autonomous Industrial Systems represent the evolution of the current “Automated Industry,” towards systems that operate independently, supported by continuous edge decision making and learning. Beyond control, orchestration of complex industrial-level processes can enable large-scale decision making based on a continuous market and regulations signals: without a centralized operator, such processes can operate independently. Autonomy also extends to “Smart Infrastructures” that enable the smart detection and connectivity of constituents and their connections to support the edge processing and decentralized decision making. The self-organization characteristics of these systems shall drive the market towards more the large-scale deployment of both connecting infrastructures and industry. The cross-regulatory nature of these systems requires an orchestration approach for the provision of interdependent services from numerous operators along a supply chain. Therefore, the direction of future development lies in the growing autonomy of the economy and the evolving edge-driven digital connection of smart infrastructures, service production, and regulation of the resources and ecosystem on which the digital representation relies.
In this study, the authors developed a smart traceability framework for athletic equipment using distributed ledger technology. They conducted their research to address persistent gaps in authenticity, life cycle visibility, and fan-side provenance across the sports equipment ecosystem. The framework was designed through a design-science approach, integrating Internet of Things sensors, digital twins, Electronic Product Code Information Services logistics data, and retail/resale events into a unified distributed ledger technology architecture governed by smart contracts. Simulation results show high validation accuracy, strong life cycle coverage, stable ledger performance, and reliable ownership transfers across manufacturing, field use, and secondary markets. These findings indicate that end-to-end, tamper-resistant traceability can significantly improve trust, operational transparency, and fan engagement in real-world sports equipment environments.
Tradicionalne metode preverjanja prisotnosti, kot so ročno beleženje ali QR kode, so podvržene manipulaciji in ne zagotavljajo zadostne varnosti ter zasebnosti uporabnikov. Magistrsko delo naslavlja te izzive z razvojem decentraliziranega sistema za preverjanje fizične prisotnosti, ki temelji na tehnologiji verige blokov in ničelno spoznavnih dokazih (zk-SNARK). Sistem integrira ZoKrates ogrodje za generiranje zasebnih dokazov, geolokacijsko verifikacijo z GPS koordinatami, Ethereum pametne pogodbe ter hibridni pristop k shranjevanju podatkov. Implementirani so bili večplatformski uporabniški vmesniki (spletna in mobilna aplikacija) z različnimi načini potrjevanja prisotnosti. Razvita rešitev predstavlja funkcionalen in robusten sistem, ki omogoča varno ter transparentno preverjanje prisotnosti brez razkrivanja osebnih podatkov uporabnikov.
Rouwaida Abdallah, Robert Istrate, Óscar Ansótegui Adarve, García García Ruben · 14 authors
This document establishes a comprehensive framework for digital traceability in the critical raw materials (CRM) supply chain, focusing on secure, verifiable data management to ensure transparency, accountability, and sustainability. It outlines the implementation of a Digital Product Passport (DPP), leveraging blockchain, distributed ledger technologies (DLTs), and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to meet regulatory and industry standards. Key topics include CRM certification, environmental compliance, material fingerprinting, risk assessment using the P.A.S.T.A. methodology, and the creation of a unified Digital Materials Passport Data Model.
Krzysztof Gogol, Johnnatan Messias, Maria Inês Silva, Benjamin Livshits
Late 2023 witnessed significant user activity on EVM chains, resulting in a surge in transaction activity and putting many rollups into the first live test. While some rollups performed well, some others experienced downtime during this period, affecting transaction finality time and gas fees. To address the lack of empirical research on rollups, we perform the first study during a heightened activity during the late 2023 transaction boom, as attributed to inscriptions - a novel technique that enables NFT and ERC-20 token creation on Bitcoin and other blockchains. We observe that minting inscription-based meme tokens on zkSync Era allows for trading at a fraction of the costs, compared to the Bitcoin or Ethereum networks. We also found that the increased transaction activity, over 99% attributed to the minting of new inscription tokens, positively affected other users of zkSync Era, resulting in lowered gas fees. Unlike L1 blockchains, ZK rollups may experience lower gas fees with increased transaction volume. Lastly, the introduction of blobs - a form of temporary data storage - decreased the gas costs of Ethereum rollups, but also raised a number of questions about the security of inscription-based tokens.
The authors describe the organization, management, and process for accomplishing applied R&D for BPA (Bonneville Power Adminstration) programs. The BPA is required to be self-financing. As such, the emphasis of BPA's R&D program is to deliver benefits to BPA and its customers, as well as to meet legislative mandates. Coordination with political bodies, BPA customers, other utilities, and other research organizations is required to formulate and accomplish the R&D as an integral part of three programs: Transmission System Development, Energy Resources, and Fish and Wildlife. Each of these programs has different needs, directives from outside BPA, and customer bases. While the R&D management is centralized, the accomplishment is decentralized.>
New methods of contractor procurement and project development are evolving. From turnkey to the latest design-build-operate-maintain (DBOM) processes, this evolution focuses on reducing costs, shortening project duration, and better allocating risk among private and public participants. One of the newest developments in the evolving DBOM procurement process is described. The process is being developed and refined in several projects in New Jersey. This new approach is a major change in project initiation and motivation—a more bottom-up, decentralized project development and implementation process. Beginning as a public-private partnership bill (A-2560) in New Jersey’s statehouse, as an effort to quickly advance a wide array of transportation initiatives, the new procurement process modified the state transportation statute to encourage more initiative and participation by the private sector in transportation projects. In consultation with private-sector interests, rail transit operators, and New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) leaders, the chairman of the Assembly Transportation Committee crafted the bill. After approval by both houses and signature by the governor, the new statute was used to solicite project proposals. Various consortia responded, representing 13 initiatives, two of which are considered rail transit new starts. The North Jersey Rapid Rail (NJRR) proposal, as a case study, demonstrates how the bottom-up, “beyond DBOM” process is working. NJRR is an initiative of a consultant-contractor consortium working with two transit-dependent counties (Bergen and Passaic) and NJDOT. A freight railroad is part of the team. The initiative is a devolution of risk and responsibility to a more local level and a reversion to earlier private partnerships. During the first half of the 20th century, most of the rail transit infrastructure in North America was designed built, operated, and maintained efficiently by private-sector consortia consisting of finance, transit operating, utility, and construction interests. From the vantage point of one millennium ending and a new one beginning, this research is retrospective as well as futuristic.