Blockchain Solutions for Multi-Agent Robotic Systems: Related Work and Open Questions

The possibilities of decentralization and immutability make blockchain probably one of the most breakthrough and promising technological innovations in recent years. This paper presents an overview, analysis, and classification of possible blockchain solutions for practical tasks facing multi-agent robotic systems. The paper discusses blockchain-based applications that demonstrate how distributed ledger can be used to extend the existing number of research platforms and libraries for multi-agent robotic systems.Comment: 5 pages, FRUCT-2019 conference pape

Архитектура формально-верифицированной системы распределенного реестра InnoChain

In this paper we consider the software architecture of InnoChain, a distributed ledger system (DLS) with 5 levels of formal verification, including a formally-verified underlying operating system (OS). The objective of this architecture is to achieve a higher level of DLS dependability compared to more traditional software architectures and quality assurance (QA) methods. The architecture of InnoChain includes (1) a programming language for smart contracts which is a domain-specific language with formal semantics embedded into CakeML, which is a functional language ofthe ML family; this allows us to carry out formal verification of smart contracts' correctness properties using higher-order logic systems, such as HOL4; (2) trusted compilation of smart contracts into the machine code using the verified compiler available for CakeML, rather than relying on a virtual machine for execution of smart contracts; (3) using CakeML for implementation of InnoChain node functionality which allows for formal verification of code correctness and trusted compilation into the machine code; (4) formal verification of the consensus protocol used InnoChain, namely HotStuff BFT; (5) using seL4, a formally-verified microkernel, as the underlying OS for InnoChain instead of more traditional general-purpose OSes such as Linux. The proposed verified architecture will allow InnoChain to be used in mission-critical applications, such as the decentralized Aircraft Fuelling Control System which is currently under development for JSC Aeroflot, the Russian national air carrier.В настоящей работе рассматривается архитектура системы распределенного реестра (СРР) InnoChain. Основной целью этой архитектуры является реализуемость 5-ти уровней формальной верификации программного обеспечения (ПО) системы InnoChain, включая операционное окружение. Методы формальной верификации являются основными методами обеспечения качества ПО с критическими требованиями по надежности, но до сих пор онине находилиширокого применения в СРР. Архитектура InnoChain включает (1) предметно-ориентированный язык смарт-контрактов с формальной семантикой, встроенный в функциональный язык CakeML (диалект языка ML), что позволяет осуществлять формальную верификацию свойств корректности смарт-контрактов в системах логики высших порядков (например, HOL4); (2) верифицированную трансляцию смарт-контрактов в машинный код с использованием компилятора CakeML вместо использования виртуальных машин для исполнения смарт-контрактов; (3) реализацию функционала узла СРР также на CakeML с формальной верификацией свойств корректности и с верифицированной трансляцией исходного кода узла в машинный код; (4) формальную верификацию протокола консенсуса СРР (HotStuff BFT); (5) использование формально-верифицированного микроядра seL4 в качестве операционного окружения СРР вместо операционных систем общего назначения. Предлагаемая архитектура открывает возможности для использования СРР InnoChain в критических по надежности приложениях, в частности, в системе управления заправкой воздушных судов ПАО Аэрофлот

InnoChain: распределенный реестр для индустриального применения с формальной верификацией на всех уровнях реализации

The extent of formal verification methods applied to industrial projects has always been limited. The proliferation of distributed ledger systems (DLS), also known as blockchain, is rapidly changing the situation. Since the main area of DLSs' application is the automation of financial transactions, the properties of predictability and reliability are critical for implementing such systems. The actual behavior of the DLS is determined by the chosen consensus protocol, which properties require strict specification and formal verification. Formal specification and verification of the consensus protocol is necessary but not sufficient. It is required to ensure that the software implementation of the DLS nodes complies with this protocol. The verified software implementation of the protocol must run on a fairly reliable operating system. The so-called “smart contracts”, which are an important part of the applied implementations of specific business processes based on DLSs, must be verifiable as well. In this paper, we describe an ongoing industrial project that will result in a DLS verified at least at the four technological levels described above. We then share our experience with the formal specification and verification of HotStuff, a leader-based fault-tolerant protocol that ensures reaching distributed consensus in the presence of Byzantine processes.Степень применения методов формальной верификации в индустриальных проектах всегда была ограничена. Распространение систем распределенного реестра (СРР), известных также как блокчейн, быстро меняет ситуацию. Поскольку основной областью применения СРР является автоматизация финансовых транзакций, свойства предсказуемости и надежности являются критическими при реализации таких систем. Реальное поведение СРР определяется выбранным протоколом консенсуса, свойства которого нуждаются в строгой спецификации и формальной верификации. Формальная спецификация и верификация протокола консенсуса необходима, но недостаточна. Необходимо удостовериться, что программная реализация узлов СРР соответствует данному протоколу. Верифицированная программная реализация протокола должна запускаться на достаточно надежной операционной системе. Так называемые “умные контракт”, которые являются важной частью прикладных реализаций конкретных бизнес-процессов на основе СРР, также должны быть верифицируемы.В данной работе мы описываем реализующийся в настоящее время индустриальный проект, результатом которого станет СРР, верифицированная по меньшей мере на четырех описанных выше технологических уровнях. Мы также описываем наш опыт формальной спецификации и верификации протокола HotStuff - отказоустойчивого протокола для гарантированного достижения консенсуса в присутствии византийских процессов и лидера

Verification of HotStuff BFT Consensus Protocol With TLA+/TLC in an Industrial Setting

The extent of formal verification methods applied in industrial projects has always been limited. The proliferation of distributed ledger systems (DLS), also known as blockchain, is rapidly changing the situation. Since the main area of DLSs’ application is the automation of financial transactions, the properties of predictability and reliability are critical for implementing such systems. The actual behavior of the DLS is largely determined by the chosen consensus protocol, which properties require strict specification and formal verification. Formal specification and verification of the consensus protocol is necessary but not sufficient. It is also required to ensure that the software implementation of the DLS nodes complies with this protocol. Finally, the verified software implementation of the protocol must run on a fairly reliable operating system. The financial focus of DLS application has also led to the emergence of the so-called smart contracts, which are an important part of the applied implementations of specific business processes based on DLSs. Therefore, the verifiability of smart contracts is also a critical requirement for industrial DLSs. In this paper, we describe an ongoing industrial project between a large Russian airline and three universities – Innopolis University (IU), Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT) and Lomonosov Moscow State University (MSU). The main expected project result is a DLS for more flexible refueling of aircrafts, verified at least at the four technological levels described above. After brief project overview, we focus on our experience with the formal specification and verification of HotStuff, a leader-based fault-tolerant protocol that ensures reaching distributed consensus in the presence of Byzantine processes. The formal specification of the protocol is performed in the TLA+ language and then verified with a specialized TLC tool to verify models based on TLA+ specifications

Architecture of the Formally-Verified Distributed Ledger System InnoChain

In this paper we consider the software architecture of InnoChain, a distributed ledger system (DLS) with 5 levels of formal verification, including a formally-verified underlying operating system (OS). The objective of this architecture is to achieve a higher level of DLS dependability compared to more traditional software architectures and quality assurance (QA) methods. The architecture of InnoChain includes (1) a programming language for smart contracts which is a domain-specific language with formal semantics embedded into CakeML, which is a functional language ofthe ML family; this allows us to carry out formal verification of smart contracts' correctness properties using higher-order logic systems, such as HOL4; (2) trusted compilation of smart contracts into the machine code using the verified compiler available for CakeML, rather than relying on a virtual machine for execution of smart contracts; (3) using CakeML for implementation of InnoChain node functionality which allows for formal verification of code correctness and trusted compilation into the machine code; (4) formal verification of the consensus protocol used InnoChain, namely HotStuff BFT; (5) using seL4, a formally-verified microkernel, as the underlying OS for InnoChain instead of more traditional general-purpose OSes such as Linux. The proposed verified architecture will allow InnoChain to be used in mission-critical applications, such as the decentralized Aircraft Fuelling Control System which is currently under development for JSC Aeroflot, the Russian national air carrier

Blockchain Solutions for Multi-Agent Robotic Systems: Related Work and Open Questions

The possibilities of decentralization and immutability make blockchain probably one of the most breakthrough and promising technological innovations in recent years. This paper presents an overview, analysis, and classification of possible blockchain solutions for practical tasks facing multi-agent robotic systems. The paper discusses blockchain-based applications that demonstrate how distributed ledger can be used to extend the existing number of research platforms and libraries for multi-agent robotic systems

InnoChain: a Distributed Ledger for Industry with Formal Verification on all Implementation Levels

The extent of formal verification methods applied to industrial projects has always been limited. The proliferation of distributed ledger systems (DLS), also known as blockchain, is rapidly changing the situation. Since the main area of DLSs' application is the automation of financial transactions, the properties of predictability and reliability are critical for implementing such systems. The actual behavior of the DLS is determined by the chosen consensus protocol, which properties require strict specification and formal verification. Formal specification and verification of the consensus protocol is necessary but not sufficient. It is required to ensure that the software implementation of the DLS nodes complies with this protocol. The verified software implementation of the protocol must run on a fairly reliable operating system. The so-called “smart contracts”, which are an important part of the applied implementations of specific business processes based on DLSs, must be verifiable as well. In this paper, we describe an ongoing industrial project that will result in a DLS verified at least at the four technological levels described above. We then share our experience with the formal specification and verification of HotStuff, a leader-based fault-tolerant protocol that ensures reaching distributed consensus in the presence of Byzantine processes

Towards Blockchain-based Multi-Agent Robotic Systems : Analysis, Classification and Applications

Decentralization, immutability and transparency make of Blockchain one of the most innovative technology of recent years. This paper presents an overview of solutions based on Blockchain technology for multi-agent robotic systems, and provide an analysis and classification of this emerging field. The reasons for implementing Blockchain in a multi-robot network may be to increase the interaction efficiency between agents by providing more trusted information exchange, reaching a consensus in trustless conditions, assessing robot productivity or detecting performance problems, identifying intruders, allocating plans and tasks, deploying distributed solutions and joint missions. Blockchain-based applications are discussed to demonstrate how distributed ledger can be used to extend the number of research platforms and libraries for multi-agent robotic systems.arXiv:1907.07433</p