SEP: Data Logging on Trains Using Blockchains

• To join the kick-off meeting, use the following link: https://bbb.ibr.cs.tu-bs.de/b/ine-2a7-pg3
• For our weekly meetings, we use Discord. Note that the server is different from DS Lehre server. Use the following link: https://discord.gg/y5A58bY

• SEP-Hauptseite vom ISF

• Subversion
• TortoiseSVN (SVN Client für Windows)

Railway operations need to be secure. In general, trains need to be monitored and maintained to prevent accidents. For this, a centralized physical black box that is resilient to crashes is located on each train. This black box logs different components data to provide information about why an accident might.

Still, there is the possibility of an attacker who compromises the coordination or manipulates data and behavior. With the help of distributed ledger technology, it is possible to log and monitor status changes of individual components despite such errors without relying on the train black box.

This project targets the implementation of a Blockchain prototype on a moving model train. Individual train components log data (speed, temperature..) and store it reliably in the Blockchain. Basic knowledge of C / C ++ is an advantage for the implementation of the Blockchain. The implementation has to be integrated with a Rust-based agreement protocol.

This topic targets to build a greatly simplified prototype of a research project called Railchain.

Tasks

Data such as diagnostic messages, speed, the temperature will be recorded and stored reliably in the blockchain. This will include the following tasks:

• Implement a Blockchain on a moving train
• Integration with Rust-based consensus
• Offer data as a cloud-server for Maintenance

Things of interest

The following technologies, languages and techniques will be utilized to build the prototype:

• C/C++ knowledge
• Basic understanding of Blockchain
• Willingness to familiarize with the Rust language

Provided Material

• Lego Train model
• Raspberry Pi Zero
• Sensors

Kick-off slides

• Kick-Off Slides

References for readings