BloCoV6: A blockchain-based 6G-assisted UAV contact tracing scheme for COVID-19 pandemic

In this article, the authors propose a scheme, BloCoV6, that integrates sixth-generation (6G)-assisted unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and blockchain (BC) to monitor mass surveillance of persons in dense areas, and implement a trust-based contact-tracing ecosystem in BC. The scheme operates in two phases. In the first phase, based on the area density, and the number of users, UAVs swarms are mounted with thermal imaging sensors that monitor the body temperature of persons. The collected data are sent to ground stations in real-time, through 6G network services. Once, the images are analyzed, the details of potential COVID-19 patients are identified, and their travel and contact records are fetched and stored in BC. Then, in the second phase, the contact-tracing information is validated in BC. The proposed scheme is simulated for smart contracts (SC) functionalities, UAV observations, latency, spectral efficiency, and transaction and signing costs. The obtained results indicate the scheme viability. For example, 6G has a low latency of 330.8 milliseconds (ms), which outperforms 1200.1 ms in fifth-generation (5G) channels. The observed spectral efficiency of 6G channels is 5-10× higher than 5G, and the average signing and transaction cost is 3.473 seconds (s), and 6.873 s respectively, which outperforms the conventional schemes.