Secure distributed system using blockchain for self-policing of autonomous agents

Abstract

A device includes communication circuitry configured to receive a message indicating an observation of an agent device. The device further includes a processor coupled to the communication circuitry and a memory. The memory stores instructions that are executable by the processor to cause the processor to perform operations. The operations include accessing a blockchain data structure. The blockchain data structure includes one or more blocks including data descriptive of observations of a plurality of agent devices, where the plurality of agent devices including the agent device. The operations also include determining, based on one or more blocks of the blockchain data structure, a behavior of the agent device. The operations also include determine whether the behavior satisfies a behavior criterion associated with the agent device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device comprising:
 communication circuitry configured to receive a message indicating an observation of an agent device; and   a processor coupled to the communication circuitry; and   a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to cause the processor to:   access a blockchain data structure, the blockchain data structure including one or more blocks including data descriptive of observations of a plurality of agent devices, the plurality of agent devices including the agent device;   determine, based on one or more blocks of the blockchain data structure, a behavior of the agent device; and   determine whether the behavior satisfies a behavior criterion associated with the agent device.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the blockchain data structure is stored in the memory. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to cause the processor to initiate a response action based on a determination that the behavior does not satisfy the behavior criterion. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the response action includes moving toward the agent device. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the response action includes transmitting a second message, the second message including data indicating that the agent device is not conforming to the behavior criterion. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 3 , further comprising a response system configured to perform the response action responsive to a signal from the processor, the processor configured to send the signal based on a threshold number of other agent devices indicating that the behavior of the agent device does not satisfy the behavior criterion. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the response system includes a transmitter configured to send an override message to the agent device, the override message configured to, in conjunction with override messages from the other agent devices, bypass a control system of the agent device. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more sensors configured to generate sensor data descriptive of a region within sensor range of the one or more sensors, wherein the communication circuitry is configured to transmit an observation report based on the sensor data. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to cause the processor to generate a new block of the blockchain data structure based on the message and based on a previous block. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the new block is generated based on a determination that a block forming condition is satisfied. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to cause the processor to transmit data associated with the new block to one or more other agent devices. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising an out-of-band override system including an out-of-band receiver distinct from a receiver of the communication circuitry, the out-of-band receiver configured to receive one or more override messages, and the out-of-band override system configured to initiate an override procedure responsive to a determination that the one or more override messages satisfy an override criterion. 
     
     
         13 . A method comprising:
 accessing, by a processor, a blockchain data structure, the blockchain data structure including one or more blocks including data descriptive of observations of a plurality of agent devices;   determining, by the processor and based on one or more blocks of the blockchain data structure, a behavior of an agent device of the plurality of agent devices;   determining, by the processor, whether the behavior satisfies a behavior criterion associated with the agent device; and   initiating, by the processor, a response action based on a determination that the behavior does not satisfy the behavior criterion.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the response action includes moving toward the agent device. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the response action includes transmitting a second message, the second message including data indicating that the agent device is not conforming to the behavior criterion. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein initiating the response action includes a transmitting an override message to the agent device, the override message configured to, in conjunction with override messages from the other agent devices, bypass a control system of the agent device. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising generating sensor data descriptive of a region within sensor range of one or more sensors, and transmitting an observation report based on the sensor data. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising generating a new block of the blockchain data structure based on the sensor data and based on a previous block. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the new block is generated based on a determination that a block forming condition is satisfied. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising transmitting data associated with the new block to one or more other agent devices.