Blockchain-Based Digital Twins: Research Trends, Issues, and Future Challenges

Abstract

Industrial processes rely on sensory data for decision-making processes, risk assessment, and performance evaluation. Extracting actionable insights from the collected data calls for an infrastructure that can ensure the dissemination of trustworthy data. For the physical data to be trustworthy, it needs to be cross-validated through multiple sensor sources with overlapping fields of view. Cross-validated data can then be stored on the blockchain, to maintain its integrity and trustworthiness. Once trustworthy data is recorded on the blockchain, product lifecycle events can be fed into data-driven systems for process monitoring, diagnostics, and optimized control. In this regard, Digital Twins (DTs) can be leveraged to draw intelligent conclusions from data by identifying the faults and recommending precautionary measures ahead of critical events. Empowering DTs with blockchain in industrial use-cases targets key challenges of disparate data repositories, untrustworthy data dissemination, and the need for predictive maintenance. In this survey, while highlighting the key benefits of using blockchain-based DTs, we present a comprehensive review of the state-of-the-art research results for blockchain-based DTs. Based on the current research trends, we discuss a trustworthy blockchain-based DTs framework. We also highlight the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in blockchain-based DTs. Furthermore, we discuss the current and future research and deployment challenges of blockchain-supported DTs that require further investigation.

Security Attacks and Solutions for Digital Twins

“…1) Targeting the physical system: Integrating generalpurpose IT systems with ICSs introduces novel attack vectors [3]. Usually operational functionality outweighs security, therefore loopholes in the system infrastructure allow attackers to launch advanced covert attacks (e.g., APTs).…”

“…Given that the digital twin data is used as an input source to the CPS physical processes, the digital twin must be built on trusted data [4]. In this context, empowering digital twins with blockchain allow industries to manage data on a distributed ledger while ensuring trusted digital twin data coordination across multiple stakeholders [3]. Next, we discuss possible solutions that can mitigate the attacks we have identified earlier on digital twins.…”

“…ICSs are a subset of CPSs. ICSs provide promising solutions to various industrial ecosystems but they substantially expand the attack surface [3]. By exploiting different attack vectors (i.e., cyber and physical), attackers can launch Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs) through which they covertly reside in the system to continually exfiltrate information or undermine the critical processes.…”

“…As CPSs cannot be deactivated for carrying out such analysis, assessing the system's security level requires online solutions that accurately reflect the actual CPS operations while avoiding any interference or side-effects of testing on the live systems [4]. Digital Twins are one such promising solution [3] which addresses this constraint.…”

“…2 shows). These links are an attractive target for attacks because the entire product lifecycle can be targeted in a data breach [3] such as when manipulating high-valued design artifacts. Furthermore, attack on digital thread may affect the next generation CPS system where digital twins data can be used as historical data.…”