Industrial NFT Smart Contracts for Trusted Automation Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing industrial automation systems face challenges in ensuring data integrity, authenticity, and efficient execution of smart contracts across multiple interconnected entities in a supply chain, where data is typically collected and stored locally, leading to trust issues and inefficiencies in data sharing.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a blockchain-enabled system that utilizes non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and smart contracts to authenticate and track products, manage recalls, and enforce contractual obligations, while segregating blockchain processing from primary control functions to maintain system performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If data is collected and stored locally in existing industrial automation systems, then data storage and processing are simplified for individual entities, but trust issues and inefficiencies arise in data sharing across the supply chain
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments data management into two parts: individual entities continue to store and manage their own data locally in their existing systems, while a separate blockchain layer is introduced to store cryptographic hashes and verification data. This segmentation allows entities to maintain their simple local storage while the blockchain provides the trust framework for cross-entity data sharing.
Solution Approach 2:
The blockchain acts as an intermediary layer between different entities in the supply chain. Instead of entities directly trusting each other's locally stored data, they trust the blockchain's cryptographic verification mechanism. The blockchain mediates data sharing by providing a decentralized, tamper-evident ledger that verifies data integrity without requiring entities to share their complete local data stores.
2Reliability
If blockchain processing is integrated with primary control functions, then data integrity is enhanced, but system performance may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates blockchain processing from primary control functions into distinct operational layers. Critical control functions continue to execute with high performance using local data, while blockchain operations (hash generation, verification, and ledger updates) are performed in parallel or asynchronously. This segmentation ensures that blockchain's data integrity enhancements do not bottleneck real-time control operations.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of processing all data through the blockchain, the system applies blockchain processing selectively to critical data points that require verification and trust. Not every data transaction needs full blockchain validation - only those requiring cross-entity trust. This partial application of blockchain processing maintains performance by avoiding unnecessary computational overhead while still providing integrity where needed.
Data Source
AI summary
Industrial blockchain enabled automation control (e.g., using a computerized tool) is enabled. For example, a system can comprise: a memory that stores executable components, a processor, operatively coupled to the memory, that executes the executable components, the executable components comprising: a contract component that determines whether a product generated using industrial automation equipment satisfies a defined condition of a smart contract, and an execution component that, in response to product being determined to satisfy the defined condition, executes a defined term of the smart contract.