Until now, our relationship with the Things we own has been reminiscent of a parent and infant. The Things are cute, we adore them, but they are helpless and they lack an identity. The IoT Protocol can change this, allowing Things to gain a life of their own, with a secure identity, wallet, and reputation all being precursors to Things being able to self-authenticate, cooperate, and transact without human assistance.

On October 9th of this year, our team at Chronicled unveiled the Drone Access Control System, which is underpinned by Chronicled’s blockchain-based open registry.

In the video above, a drone equipped with a secure, blockchain-registered BLE chip is able to self-authenticate to a computer-controlled window and gain access to a private residence and deliver a package. The computer operating the door checks for the identify of the drone by asking it to cryptographically sign a random number. It then compares the signature to the blockchain-hosted public key of the drone along with the metadata describing its make, model, and specifications.

This particular drone was registered to the blockchain by Wallmeds, a pharmacy that has been whitelisted by the homeowner, and the door is able to open automatically.

The innovation that underpins our prototype is the Ethereum blockchain. The blockchain is an emerging diffuse network of computers and consensus algorithm that, along with the IoT and Blockchain protocol developed by Chronicled, makes it possible to give any object, product, or machine a unique and secure Internet identity. Not only that, but it also allows users to program smart contracts governing machine-to-machine interactions and payments.

Since the system is decentralized, any individual could hypothetically register a drone containing an identity chip to a blockchain and use it to send packages with a programmed route and simple access control devices, among much else. We could envision similar systems being used for shipping and receiving high-value and secure assets.

The identity chip within the drone, manufactured by Silicon Labs and running Chronicled custom firmware, stores a private key that enables the chip to cryptographically sign random challenges. This signing is the is the basis for the blockchain authentication. The chipset and firmware are available for brands, companies, and hobbyists who are interested in creating secure digital experiences for physical property.

Our drone demonstration presages a world in which autonomous vehicles can provide countless services to customers. To achieve this, machines will need to be easily recognizable and securely verifiable to the infrastructure and machines with which they interact; the systems and apps that arise to support this Internet of Things will need to be completely interoperable with secure identities in order to support the interaction of numerous organizations, products, operating systems, and individuals.

Chronicled has developed the world’s first such ecosystem, our interoperable and cryptographically secure Open Registry for IoT Protocol. The open source protocol allows involved parties to build functionality on top of it to solve the biggest problems facing the growth of IoT.

We’re seeing other players in both the Internet of Things and blockchain industries looking at these problems, as well. Last month, IBM unveiled their $200M investment in a new R&D facility in Munich, Germany. The facility, in connection with the Watson project, which focuses on artificial intelligence, will include research with emphasis on IoT and blockchain technology.

Slock.it, widely known for their sharing economy applications and being the architects of TheDAO, is now developing a solution for an autonomous electric vehicle. The team is aiming to create a solution allowing the vehicle to recharge itself via electric induction plates while waiting at traffic lights. “Our project is considerably more cost effective than traditional micropayment solutions thanks to the use of blockchain technology. This creates savings that can be passed onto consumers,” says CTO & Co-founder Christoph Jentzsch.

The blockchain is poised to become a key factor in enabling a new, interoperable IoT economy to emerge. Imagine a car without a steering wheel. It is able to automatically pay the gas pump, place an order at a drive-thru restaurant, and securely access a parking garage. Imagine a home whose doors automatically unlock when its inhabitants come into range. Such a world is likely to emerge as the next stage of blockchain and IoT technology innovation emerge over the next decade.

You can learn more about our drone use case on our website and GitHub.