Lightweight, blockchain-based reputation system for unmanned aerial vehicle …
US20260106754A1
Abstract
A system includes: one or more each of UAVs; UAV service requestors; UAV service providers; and ground stations. Using an identity authentication module, a reputation system module, and a blockchain fabric module, the UAVs, the UAV service requestors, the UAV service providers, and the ground stations are capable of sending and receiving electronic data via one or more remote connections, the identity authentication module identifies and authenticates UAVs such that only verified and authenticated UAVs can access the UAV network; the reputation system module evaluates and maintains a reputation of the UAV service requestors and the UAV service providers and assigns a reputation; and the blockchain fabric module implements a blockchain with respect to the UAV network to securely record flight data of the UAVs on the UAV network, which flight data includes one or more of a location, altitude, and one or more mission parameters of the UAV.
Description (excerpt)
Pursuant to 37 C.F.R. § 1.78(a)(4), this application claims the benefit of and priority to prior filed co-pending Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/705,556, filed Oct. 10, 2024, which is expressly incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. RIGHTS OF THE GOVERNMENT The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States for all governmental purposes without the payment of any royalty. FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) networks and, more particularly, to reputation systems for UAV networks. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The market for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), also referred to as drones, has grown rapidly. Drones have been widely adopted for both civilian and military applications, including delivery, transportation, inspection, mapping, etc. Data received via UAV(s) can be essential for emergency operations. UAVs have different applications than many other robotic vehicles, as they are generally not limited to surface operations. They may be more agile and adaptable than other robots for many tasks. This may make them ideal for tasks in remote work sites. The use of drones remotely, though, can be challenging from a command and control perspective. Each UAV can be a complex Internet of Things (IoT) system, consisting of sensors, antennae, embedded software, communications hardware and software, etc. Interweaving only one of these complex drones can be difficult. Having multiple drones operating in the same environment makes the situation even more challenging. Especially when considering that, in addition to the organic challenges of simply operating, drone systems and networks may be vulnerable to malicious attacks. The proliferation of UAVs and their application has made UAV networks attractive targets. During encrypted data exchanges between UAV systems and unauthorized entities, for example, sensitive and private information, such as position, payload, and flight time, may be made public. The confidentiality, reputation, privacy, security, and reliability systems of these networks can be attacked. The constrained nature of computing resources and limited power supplies in drones may make drones particularly vulnerable to attack. Because the reliability and credibility of UAV networks are paramount, new systems and methods for protecting these UAVs and the payloads and information they carry using a lightweight, blockchain-based reputation (LIBRE) system may be required. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention overcomes the aforementioned problems and other shortcomings, drawbacks, and challenges of resource constraints, centralized vulnerabilities, inadequate trust management, limited scalability, interoperability challenges, lack of transparency and auditability, and adaptability to dynamic environments. While the invention will be described in connection with certain embodiments, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to these embodiments. To the contrary, this invention includes all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the present invention. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a system includes a UAV network including one or more of: one or more UAVs; one or more UAV service requestors; one or more UAV service providers; and one or more ground stations, an identity authentication module, a reputation system module, and a blockchain fabric module. The UAVs, the UAV service requestors, the UAV service providers, and the ground stations are capable of sending and receiving electronic data via one or more remote connections, the identity authentication module identifies and authenticates the UAVs in the UAV network such that only verified and authenticated UAVs are capable of accessing the UAV network; the reputation system module evaluates and maintains a reputation of one or more of the UAV service requestors and the UAV service providers assigning a reputation rating for one or more of the UAV service requestors and the UAV service providers. The blockchain fabric module implements a blockchain with respect to the UAV network to securely record flight data of the UAVs on the UAV network, which flight data includes one or more of a location, altitude, and one or more mission parameters of the UAV. According to another embodiment of the present invention, a method comprises registering a first UAV on the UAV network using the identity authentication module, registration of the first UAV including a configuration of node settings for participation in the UAV network; verifying the first UAV on the UAV network, verification of the firs
Filing details
- Inventors
- Yu Chen
- Assignee
- Government Of The United States As Represented By The Secretary Of The Air …
- Filed
- Sep 16, 2025
- Granted
- Application pending
Bibliographic data and excerpted text sourced from Google Patents (public record) as part of IP TechMatch's current-filings monitor. This filing is not part of the 2019 historical archive. For the authoritative full text, drawings, and legal status, see the source links above or consult USPTO records directly.