Nevada
University of Nevada, Reno’s autonomous vehicle. Credit: Filament.

Internet of Things (IoT) firm Filament has teamed up with the University of Nevada, and Reno’s Intelligent Mobility Initiative to develop a new standard based on blockchain IoT technology for attested data integrity between self-driving vehicles and road infrastructure.

This project is being undertaken through the University’s Nevada Center for Applied Research (NCAR).

The smart city project is intended to boost safety and communication between autonomous connected vehicles and surrounding infrastructure with LIDAR and dedicated short-range communications (DSRC) devices deployed at intersections.

Nevada Center for Applied Research director Carlos Cardillo said: “The growth in the number of connected vehicles on roads will lead to an increase in the number of IoT devices, which can potentially create vulnerabilities.

“Working with Filament as part of Intelligent Mobility will help us to create and validate secured data generated from the many connected LIDAR devices, including those in autonomous vehicles that will soon be a common feature in our cities and towns. We believe this can result in a new set of data integrity standards that others can follow when rolling out their own initiatives.”

Nevada Center for Applied Research facilitates the Intelligent Mobility initiative. The university will start simulated testing of Filament’s Blocklet technology. It plans to integrate the technology into an autonomous vehicle and the sensor infrastructure placed along defined routes soon. This will enable delivery of a record of events, attested data exchange through blockchain transactions.

“We believe this can result in a new set of data integrity standards that others can follow when rolling out their own initiatives.”

Nevada Center for Applied Research director Carlos Cardillo said: “The growth in the number of connected vehicles on roads will lead to an increase in the number of IoT devices, which can potentially create vulnerabilities.

“Working with Filament as part of Intelligent Mobility will help us to create and validate secured data generated from the many connected LIDAR devices, including those in autonomous vehicles that will soon be a common feature in our cities and towns.

“We believe this can result in a new set of data integrity standards that others can follow when rolling out their own initiatives.”

Filament CEO Allison Clift-Jennings said that the University’s test vehicles will accept only Blocklet-attested data transmissions for the project, which will protect them from potential bad actors or man-in-the-middle attacks.

Alongside the self-driving car technology, carmakers are looking to deploy blockchain technology in other segments of the auto industry.

Recently, German carmaker BMW showcased its blockchain-based VerifyCar app designed to thwart mileage fraud.

Volkswagen partnered with IBM, Ford and others companies in a blockchain supply chain network to mine cobalt ethically.