Blockchain for Self Driving Cars

by: Ron Zampolin

While it may seem like a blunder of buzzwords, GM does seem to be trying to implement a blockchain as a data solution for their automated fleet. A patent was published this past week that described a method where autonomous vehicles would be able to store their data on a “distributed ledger,” allowing data to be easily shared between vehicles.

The concept of sharing data between cars is not news, however using blockchain for this process could be extremely useful. Blockchain offers lots of security for data sharing and processing, as it decentralizes operations and makes all data packet transfers much more difficult to decrypt. GM also has discussed adding a payment system for tolls, parking, and ticketing into this technology, as well as the ability for municipalities and local authorities to access the vehicle’s data if necessary.