Blockchain for Securing Autonomous Vehicles

Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) are perceived as a revolutionary development in the worldwide transport sector and are believed to enhance safety significantly. An AV is equipped with a range of advanced technologies that allow it to communicate with other vehicles, as well as with various other systems and infrastructure such as traffic lights, road signs, and other Road-Side Units (RSUs). AVs also employ a variety of communication channels for their operation and safety. The major concerns in such communication channels are reliability, precision, and security of received and broadcasted data. These concerns directly affect the safety and security aspects of an AV which endangers the passenger safety. Thus, AVs require a secure mechanism for the exchange of crucial data. This paper explores the utilization of blockchain technology in AV communication, enabling authorized access to data, facilitating secure data sharing among vehicles and RSUs, tracking the internal status of the vehicle for In-Vehicle Network (IVN) breaches, along with the architecture of the system. Moreover, the paper outlines the implementation challenges and future research of blockchain technology in AVs.