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Intelligent and Converged Networks 2021, 2(4): 277-294 https://doi.org/10.23919/ICN.2021.0018
Open Access | Issue | Published: 30 December 2021

Blockchain-envisioned unmanned aerial vehicle communications in space-air-ground integrated network: A review

Show Author's Information Zhonghao Wang1,  Fulai Zhang1,  Qiqi Yu1,  Tuanfa Qin1( )
School of Computer and Electronic Information and the Guangxi Key Laboratory of Multimedia Communications and Network Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
Keywords:
Internet of Things (IoT), Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), security, blockchain, Space-Air-Ground Integrated Network (SAGIN)
Cite this article:
Wang Z, Zhang F, Yu Q, et al. Blockchain-envisioned unmanned aerial vehicle communications in space-air-ground integrated network: A review. Intelligent and Converged Networks, 2021, 2(4): 277-294. https://doi.org/10.23919/ICN.2021.0018
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Abstract Full text About this article

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) communications have recently entered a new period of interest, motivated by technological advances and the gradual emergence of the Space-Air-Ground Integrated Network (SAGIN). The current survey aims to capture the use of UAVs in the SAGIN while highlighting the most promising open research topics. The traditional UAV network architecture is not adequate to meet the challenges presented by the SAGIN, and an effective and secure space-air-ground integrated UAV network needs to be constructed. Given its well-distributed management and consensus mechanism, blockchain technology can make up for the deficiency of the traditional UAV network. In this work, we review the role of UAVs in the SAGIN. Then, three applications of the blockchain-envisioned UAV network are introduced through several classifications. Future challenges and the corresponding open research topics are also described.


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About this article

Blockchain-envisioned unmanned aerial vehicle communications in space-air-ground integrated network: A review

Show Author's information Zhonghao Wang1, Fulai Zhang1, Qiqi Yu1, Tuanfa Qin1( )
School of Computer and Electronic Information and the Guangxi Key Laboratory of Multimedia Communications and Network Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China

Abstract

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) communications have recently entered a new period of interest, motivated by technological advances and the gradual emergence of the Space-Air-Ground Integrated Network (SAGIN). The current survey aims to capture the use of UAVs in the SAGIN while highlighting the most promising open research topics. The traditional UAV network architecture is not adequate to meet the challenges presented by the SAGIN, and an effective and secure space-air-ground integrated UAV network needs to be constructed. Given its well-distributed management and consensus mechanism, blockchain technology can make up for the deficiency of the traditional UAV network. In this work, we review the role of UAVs in the SAGIN. Then, three applications of the blockchain-envisioned UAV network are introduced through several classifications. Future challenges and the corresponding open research topics are also described.

Keywords: Internet of Things (IoT), Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), security, blockchain, Space-Air-Ground Integrated Network (SAGIN)

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Publication history

Received: 17 October 2021
Accepted: 05 November 2021
Published: 30 December 2021
Issue date: December 2021

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© All articles included in the journal are copyrighted to the ITU and TUP.

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Acknowledgment

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 61563004 and 61761007).

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This work is available under the CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 IGO license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/igo/

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