A recent study has introduced the first sharding-based blockchain system specifically designed to improve scalability, adaptability, and coordination in UAV search and rescue (SAR) operations.
Architecture of the proposed system. Image Credit: Frontiers Journals
Sharding is a well-regarded approach for improving scalability in blockchain systems. However, when traditional sharding strategies are applied to UAV-based SAR operations, they face two key challenges. First is adaptability—blockchains that underpin UAV networks often struggle to adjust to dynamic environments and evolving mission requirements. The second is interoperability—missions distributed across different shards can find it difficult to coordinate and collaborate effectively.
To address these issues, a research team led by Xihan Zhang published their latest findings in Frontiers of Computer Science, co-published by Higher Education Press and Springer Nature.
The team introduced a novel UAV system designed for SAR missions, built on a consortium blockchain architecture that incorporates sharding. This system is the first to directly tackle scalability challenges in blockchain-based UAV SAR scenarios while also improving adaptability and interoperability within a sharded blockchain framework.
To enhance adaptability, the researchers developed a mechanism for dynamically generating mission-specific shards. These shards are configured on demand, with smart contracts tailored to the real-time requirements of each mission. For interoperability, they implemented Merkle proof-based cross-shard communication, allowing contracts on separate shards to securely and verifiably interact via a relay on the main chain.
Performance tests using simulation experiments demonstrated that the proposed system significantly outperforms non-sharding approaches. It efficiently manages large-scale blockchain data and high-complexity transactions, confirming the system’s strong scalability enabled by its sharding design.
Looking ahead, the team highlights two promising directions for future work. One is to enhance UAV connectivity through improved consensus algorithms that can operate reliably even with limited network access. The other is to optimize the deployment and execution of smart contracts, aiming to reduce gas consumption and improve overall efficiency.
Journal Reference:
Zhang, X., et al. (2024) A sharding blockchain-based UAV system for search and rescue missions. Frontiers of Computer Science. doi.org/10.1007/s11704-024-3467-8.