GE Research develops quantum-safe blockchain network for 3D printing

On May 16, 2019, the author learned from foreign media that GE Research's cutting-edge ForgeLab team developed a super secure blockchain network for additive manufacturing. The system is designed to manage and protect 3D printing services from powder supply to finished products that encrypt data in a way that is expected to withstand quantum computer attacks.

Benjamin Beckmann, head of the blockchain at GE Research, explained, “The demonstration of blockchain additive manufacturing is a good use case for building blockchain frameworks.”

“We can create networks that allow fine-grained control over the flow of materials, data, intellectual property and identity for the entire additive manufacturing digital line. The goal here is to provide a guarantee for the entire process from powder to printing.” From powder to part Fixed as a digital process, using cloud capabilities, production-ready 3D printing requires a built-in security system. Blockchain is an effective way to instill security at all stages of the 3D printing process because the records it maintains about each step are distributed across a large network, making it difficult to access or change in any way.

In particular, the aerospace and defense industries, the US Armed Forces, including the Army Research Laboratory (ARL) and the Department of the Navy, have developed proprietary blockchain encryption technologies for their 3D printing programs. Private companies including Link3D, Wipro and Moog have also developed specialized blockchain solutions for this technology.

At GE, blockchain technology for additive manufacturing has been around for many years.

GE Research develops quantum-safe blockchain network for 3D printing

△ The difference between a centralized network and a blockchain.

Quantum security blockchain protection

In June 2018, the blockchain patents assigned to GE were published under the efforts of inventors John Freer, Richard Messmer, Arvind Rangarajan and David Safford. Still granted by the U.S. Patent Office, this document details "additive manufacturing equipment configured to implement a distributed ledger system" that includes hardware, software controllers, and various steps for constructing verification.

In contrast, the latest GE blockchain network was developed by Beckmann and his colleagues' principle engineer John Carbone. Carbone explains the new quantum security system: "In the network, each identity associated with equipment, design, machines, materials, components and people can be quickly verified, qualified, and managed with the highest degree of automation. Data integrity."

In addition, "The system is based on modern encryption methods that focus on data integrity and ownership, as well as automated workflow capabilities through distributed consolidation and transactional ledger techniques."

Beckmann will present full details and further results of this development at the CONSENSUS Blockchain Conference in New York City from May 13th to 15th.