Approved
Assessing Blockchain Technology for Transport Data Logger
Björn Johansson (2013)
Start
2017-08-28
Presentation
2018-01-12 09:15
Location:
E:3139
Finished:
2018-01-29
Master's thesis:
Abstract
A proof of concept for a blockchain-based solution to store and attribute log data for the Transport Data Logger system is being developed and evaluated as the main objective of the thesis.<br/> <br/> The promise of blockchain is network-distributed, decentralized and immutable data storage and transaction conduction. Many very differing implementations of the blockchain concept exist, with their common factor being the sorting of data into an append-only list of blocks chronologically and cryptographically linked to one another in linear sequence. In the original cryptocurrency Bitcoin the way the network is coordinated is through a combined massive use of computational resources. The great advantage of this is that it allows anyone willing to connect to the blockchain network to partake in the creation of new blocks to append to the bitcoin blockchain but the tradeoff comes in the form of very slow transaction speeds and high transaction latency. Permissioned systems exist that limit network participation to identifiable actors, the tradeoff being faster transaction speeds and greatly reduced latencies for a closed participation system. This can still be achieved without requiring explicit trust between all participants though, which is still the great advantage of the blockchain system.<br/> <br/> The Transport Data Logger (TDL) system consists of a sensor-equipped device that interacts with a companion smartphone app. The device is fastened to goods during transport and set up using the app to tolerate certain threshold sensor values including temperature, impacts and humidity (and more) during transport, with readings exceeding those values being logged as violations. The recipient can then connect to the TDL device upon delivery of the goods and view (and share) the log data. In its current form the TDL system lacks cryptographic protection or attribution of violation data to specific transport chain actors.
Supervisor: Sascha Artamanov (Bosch AB) and Paul Stankovski Wagner (EIT)
Examiner: Thomas Johansson (EIT)