Controlling Robots using Image Analysis and a Consortium Blockchain

Vasco Lopes, Luís A. Alexandre, Nuno Pereira

Abstract: Blockchain is a disruptive technology, normally used within financial applications, however, it can be very beneficial in certain robotic contexts, such as when an immutable register of events is required. Among the several properties of Blockchain that can be useful within robotic environments, we find not just immutability but also data decentralization, irreversibility, accessibility and non-repudiation. In this paper, we propose an architecture that uses blockchain as a ledger, and smart-contracts for robotic control by using oracles to process data. We show how to register events in a secure way, how it is possible to use smart-contracts to control robots and how to interface with external algorithms for image analysis. The proposed architecture is modular and can be used in multiple contexts such as in manufacturing, network control, robot control, and others, since it is easy to integrate, adapt, maintain and extend to new domains, only requiring new tailored smart-contracts.