Solving the last mile problem in logistics: A mobile edge computing and blockchain-based unmanned aerial vehicle delivery system

Li, X; Gong, L; Liu, X; Jiang, F; Shi, W; Fan, L; Gao, H; Li, R; Xu, J

Solving the last mile problem in logistics: A mobile edge computing and blockchain-based unmanned aerial vehicle delivery system

Li, X Gong, L Liu, X Jiang, F

Shi, W Fan, L Gao, H Li, R Xu, J

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Publisher:: Wiley
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Concurrency and Computation: Practice and Experience, 2022, 34, (7), pp. 1-14
Issue Date:: 2022

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Li, X
dc.contributor.author	Gong, L
dc.contributor.author	Liu, X
dc.contributor.author	Jiang, F https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3765-561X
dc.contributor.author	Shi, W
dc.contributor.author	Fan, L
dc.contributor.author	Gao, H
dc.contributor.author	Li, R
dc.contributor.author	Xu, J
dc.date.accessioned	2023-07-09T21:53:32Z
dc.date.available	2023-07-09T21:53:32Z
dc.date.issued	2022
dc.identifier.citation	Concurrency and Computation: Practice and Experience, 2022, 34, (7), pp. 1-14
dc.identifier.issn	1532-0626
dc.identifier.issn	1532-0634
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/171381
dc.description.abstract	The “last mile” problem in logistics is challenging due to its low efficiency and high cost. To address this problem, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) delivery such as drone delivery has been proposed and widely accepted as a promising solution. However, currently most of the existing UAV delivery systems are based on Cloud Computing which cannot efficiently meet the requirements of many real-time services in UAV delivery systems. Meanwhile, the security issues in UAV delivery systems also raise critical concerns due to the existence of multiple participants (such as the sender, middler, and receiver) who may not maintain a mutual trust relationship among them. How to secure the UAV delivery process in such an untrusted environment is still a challenging issue. In this paper, we propose a Mobile Edge Computing (MEC) and blockchain-based UAV delivery system to resolve the “last mile” problem in logistics. Specifically, based on the MEC architecture, the blockchain nodes are deployed on the edge nodes to facilitate and secure the UAV delivery process. To verify the effectiveness of our proposed solution, a MEC-based UAV delivery system prototype with a private blockchain on the Ethereum platform is implemented. Through the security analysis and performance evaluation, it is proven that our proposed solution can effectively solve the “last mile” problem and address the security issues in UAV delivery systems.
dc.language	en
dc.publisher	Wiley
dc.relation.ispartof	Concurrency and Computation: Practice and Experience
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1002/cpe.6068
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess
dc.subject	0801 Artificial Intelligence and Image Processing, 0803 Computer Software, 0805 Distributed Computing
dc.subject.classification	Distributed Computing
dc.subject.classification	46 Information and computing sciences
dc.title	Solving the last mile problem in logistics: A mobile edge computing and blockchain-based unmanned aerial vehicle delivery system
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	34
utslib.for	0801 Artificial Intelligence and Image Processing
utslib.for	0803 Computer Software
utslib.for	0805 Distributed Computing
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Provost
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Provost/Jumbunna
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access	*
pubs.consider-herdc	false
dc.date.updated	2023-07-09T21:53:30Z
pubs.issue	7
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	34
utslib.citation.issue	7

Abstract:

The “last mile” problem in logistics is challenging due to its low efficiency and high cost. To address this problem, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) delivery such as drone delivery has been proposed and widely accepted as a promising solution. However, currently most of the existing UAV delivery systems are based on Cloud Computing which cannot efficiently meet the requirements of many real-time services in UAV delivery systems. Meanwhile, the security issues in UAV delivery systems also raise critical concerns due to the existence of multiple participants (such as the sender, middler, and receiver) who may not maintain a mutual trust relationship among them. How to secure the UAV delivery process in such an untrusted environment is still a challenging issue. In this paper, we propose a Mobile Edge Computing (MEC) and blockchain-based UAV delivery system to resolve the “last mile” problem in logistics. Specifically, based on the MEC architecture, the blockchain nodes are deployed on the edge nodes to facilitate and secure the UAV delivery process. To verify the effectiveness of our proposed solution, a MEC-based UAV delivery system prototype with a private blockchain on the Ethereum platform is implemented. Through the security analysis and performance evaluation, it is proven that our proposed solution can effectively solve the “last mile” problem and address the security issues in UAV delivery systems.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/171381