A blockchain-based platform for smart contracts and intellectual property protection for the additive manufacturing industry

Autonomous machine-to-machine interaction with minimal human interference is one of the defining features of cyber-physical systems that are expected to become ubiquitous as the manufacturing industry enters the fourth industrial revolution. Blockchain technology could emerge as a technology that underpins cyber-physical systems because of its various desirable characteristics. This paper describes the design and implementation details of two components of a blockchain-based data model for the additive manufacturing industry. A smart contract framework is proposed for the creation and execution of agreements between design companies and 3D printing companies. It facilitates the verification and automatic enforcement of these contracts. The framework incorporates a dedicated platform for the management of design files for intellectual property (IP) protection-related use cases. This helps to control the usage and distribution of IP, which is a crucial requirement for a data management solution for the industry. The proposed platforms have been implemented using the Ethereum software stack and its advantages and use cases have been explored.