Modernizing CPS with Blockchain: Applications, Challenges & Future Directions

The necessity for ameliorating management and secure process is imperiously required in this tech-driven world with the digitized working environment. The increased usage of the internet and the burgeoning connectivity through IoT have provided a significant opportunity for Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) to preponderate. These are advanced computerized devices that function together to perform specific tasks, respond to human stimuli, and control the physical segments. While this technology is already used in automatic pilot avionics, robotics systems, medical monitoring, industrial control systems, etc. yet the advancement of these systems must comprehend incontrovertible focus on making them efficient and secure. To improve the resilience, dependability, and security of these systems, researchers can incorporate Blockchain technology which has an inbuilt blend of consensual algorithms, secure protocols, and distributed data storage, with the CPS. Moreover, with the advancement of IoT in the upgraded version of CPS, such as autonomous driving, there’s a major need to manage big data with low latency and high accuracy. Therefore, deep learning can be applied for systematic analysis of big data, which supports vivid analytic ability. While these emerging technologies set some security standards and enable users to authenticate their digital information, these technologies have the potential to significantly influence the current trend in the field of CyberPhysical Systems. This article focuses on a comprehensive analysis of Blockchain applications synthesized with CPS. Furthermore, this article briefly presented the BCPS (Blockchain-enabled CPS) framework for addressing issues in the Industry 4.0 manufacturing system while adopting Blockchain (BC) in CPS.