Blockchain protects IP, tracks tires, supports coronavirus response
Connecting state and local government leaders
Distributed ledger technology is being deployed to defend against counterfeit goods crossing the border, track the tires used on military vehicles and aircraft and support coronavirus response efforts.
Customs and Border Protection tested the feasibility of using blockchain to protect intellectual property rights (IPR) information transmitted between multiple commercial companies.
In a late February statement, CBP said the proof of concept demonstrated blockchain can encrypt sensitive data and track it via an electronic ledger to protect IPR on imports, as well as the sensitive data shared among manufacturers, retailers, rights holders and importing companies.
CBP has long fought against imported counterfeit goods of all stripes, from toys and athletic wear to prescription drugs, saying they cost U.S. companies hundreds of millions of dollars every year in lost income.
The proof-of-concept blockchain connected product data correctly to the product and to the license, resulting in fewer physical examinations of products being imported, according to CBP. The seven companies participating in the test could communicate with others participants using their unique blockchain, regardless of different software used by each party, thanks to the program’s open global standards and approaches.
Supply chain for military tires
SAIC announced a blockchain pilot with The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company to secure the supply chain for aircraft and vehicle tires for the armed services and foreign military sales under the Defense Logistics Agency’s Global Tires Program. SAIC said the program has delivered more than 1.5 million tires worldwide, with a 97% fill rate.
SAIC plans to integrate data from internet-of-things sensors with smart contracts to enhance real-time supply chain track-and-trace capabilities so that participants will instantly know if weather or a mechanical breakdown delays a truckload of aircraft tires. The pilot, supported by Microsoft Azure Blockchain services, will allow participants to track, view and analyze supply chain activity, further aiding customers in making informed buying decisions.
Coronavirus support
A professor at the University of California San Diego has been studying how moving medical supply chain records to a blockchain could help anticipate shortages in health emergencies by identifying chokepoints in the delivery process.
Timothy Mackey thinks that by eliminating these hiccups in the system, public health officials and medical suppliers could more easily see which hospitals were prepared to treat COVID-19 patients and others in need of acute care, according to a report in Forbes.
Blockchain technology helped the Chinese government and medical agencies battle against the coronavirus, according to Xinhuanet, China’s official news outlet. In the first two weeks of February, at least 20 blockchain-based applications were launched to tackle the emerging challenges, including health records management, securing gated communities for residents, managing relief supplies along and tracking logistics of epidemic prevention materials.
Drone communications
Researchers at Purdue University have received funding from NASA for a blockchain-inspired secure, scalable, distributed, and efficient communication framework to support large scale drone operations. The researchers propose unmanned aerial vehicle traffic information exchange network to safely, securely and economically distribute UAV flight data across the network.
According to the award notice, the project will demonstrate how traffic data can be shared between UAVs and aircraft traffic controllers in a city with obstacles blocking radio signals. Additionally, the researchers said it can also provide a reliable and real-time information source for drone developers working on collision avoidance systems and route planning strategies that ensure airspace safety and efficiency.
Secure vehicle communications
The Federal Highway Administration said it expects to sponsor research into the use of blockchain technology for highway transportation. It is interested in support for secure, real-time communication for connected vehicles, freight data management, dynamic roadway asset tools that optimize routing or geofencing of roadway segments and highway pricing featuring dynamic and auction-based mechanisms.
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