Blockchain for decentralized multi‐drone to combat COVID‐19 and future pandemics: Framework and proposed solutions

Abstract

Currently, drones represent a promising technology for combating Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) due to the transport of goods, medical supplies to a given target location in the quarantine areas experiencing an epidemic outbreak. Drone missions will increasingly rely on drone collaboration, which requires the drones to reduce communication complexity and be controlled in a decentralized fashion. Blockchain technology becomes a must in industrial applications because it provides decentralized data, accessibility, immutability, and irreversibility. Therefore, Blockchain makes data public for all drones and enables drones to log information concerning world states, time, location, resources, delivery data, and drone relation to all neighbors drones. This paper introduces decentralized independent multi‐drones to accomplish the task collaboratively. Improving blockchain with a consensus algorithm can improve network partitioning and scalability in order to combat COVID‐19. The multi‐drones task is to combat COVID‐19 via monitoring and detecting, social distancing, sanitization, data analysis, delivering goods and medical supplies, and announcement while avoiding collisions with one another. We discuss End to End (E2E) delivery application of combination blockchain and multi‐drone in combating COVID‐19 and beyond future pandemics. Furthermore, the challenges and opportunities of our proposed framework are highlighted.

Exploring Feasibility of Multivariate Deep Learning Models in Predicting COVID-19 Epidemic

“…LSTM is relatively easy to operate and straightforward to quickly adjust LSTM architecture by adding, removing, or (19,20). Unlike mechanistic models, data-driven DL models generally do not require thorough understanding of disease mechanisms to work with, as DL is directly driven by underlying data.…”

“…Other non-traditional data, such as social media, sensor-based data, and drone imaging, can be incorporated into the LSTM model to better characterize multiple aspects of COVID-19 dynamics ( 14 – 19 ). Decentralized blockchain techniques and robotics could also provide rich and secure inputs for data-driven models such as LSTM ( 19 , 20 ).…”

“…We suggest the data mining step is therefore essential: more data will increase model resilience against biases in case numbers (e.g., inconsistent case definition in early phase of COVID-19). Recent blockchain technology could facilitate data archiving and mitigate data tampering issues ( 19 ).…”

“…More importantly, the multivariate LSTM developed in this study can be easily extended to further incorporate more data such as in the MIDAS GitHub repository (13). Other non-traditional data, such as social media, sensor-based data, and drone imaging, can be incorporated into the LSTM model to better characterize multiple aspects of COVID-19 dynamics(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19). Decentralized blockchain techniques and robotics could also provide rich and secure inputs for data-driven models such as LSTM…”

Digital Technology-Based Telemedicine for the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Also, the automatic infrared thermal imaging temperature detection and warning systems have been adopted in Huoshenshan and Leishenshan hospitals of Wuhan to enable real-time and continuous monitoring of the changes in body temperature and automatically alert the febrile individuals, which could contribute to better management COVID-19 cases via early detection and simultaneously avoid cross-infection. Dong et al ( 93 ) and Alsamhi et al ( 94 ) also summarized the active role of IoT and blockchain during the COVID-19 epidemic, covering the diagnosis of COVID-19 symptoms, quarantine monitoring, and real-time tracking to combat the epidemic. It also revealed the meaningful role of digital technology during the epidemic.…”