Session: 03-11-02: Future of Smart Manufacturing

Paper Number: 145596

145596 - Vr-Based Blockchain-Enabled Data Visualization Framework for Manufacturing Industry 

Smart manufacturing revolutionizes traditional industry practices by integrating physical and cyber worlds, establishing a robust cyber infrastructure that collects, interprets, and acts upon data from physical factories. This shift underscores the critical role of data in driving adaptive manufacturing processes. Additionally, the integration of virtual reality (VR) alongside smart manufacturing revolutionizes traditional industry practices by establishing a robust cyber-physical infrastructure that not only collects, interprets, and acts upon data from physical factories but also immerses users in virtual environments for enhanced decision-making. VR enables stakeholders to visualize and interact with complex manufacturing processes, optimizing operational efficiency and fostering innovative solutions. However, this paradigm shift also highlights the critical importance of data security, as any breaches or corruption could disrupt operations and jeopardize sensitive information. To address this challenge, blockchain technology is introduced to manufacturing environments, providing a secure repository for data that prevents unauthorized access or alteration. Through the convergence of VR and blockchain, manufacturers can navigate the complexities of modern production while safeguarding critical assets and driving sustainable growth. This research proposes a blockchain-based data visualization framework integrated with VR to get manufacturing insights. This framework is implemented at the Future Factories Lab at the University of South Carolina. The proposed system aims to enhance understanding, analysis, and decision-making processes by immersing users in a VR environment where complex manufacturing data stored using blockchain is translated into intuitive and interactive representations. The project focuses on two main components: blockchain and VR. Hyperledger Fabric is employed to establish a blockchain system, recording data from future factory cells. This system captures information from various sources, such as potentiometers on robot grippers to measure grip positioning, load cells to gauge pressure, emergency stop buttons, and temperature sensors on the conveyors. Whenever predefined conditions are met, pertinent data, including sensor ID, timestamp, value, cause, and importance, is securely recorded in the blockchain, signaling the occurrence of a defect within the cell. Establishing a secure data repository underscores the need to prioritize data authentication before its inclusion in the blockchain ledger. To address this concern, redundancy checks for sensor data are implemented to safeguard against data corruption prior to storage in the blockchain ledger. Data retrieved from the blockchain system is accessed through "GET" API requests. Initially, users must register on the network using a GET function, which upon successful identification, provides a bearer token. This token is subsequently utilized to invoke query functions on the blockchain ledger.  A VR application is developed using a cross-platform Unity game engine to visualize the data retrieved from the blockchain system. Oculus Quest 3 is used as the targeted Head Mounted VR device. The VR application has two C# scripts: one script to query blockchain data using ‘GET’ API calls and another script converts the JSON object to text data to visualize in the VR system. The proposed system leverages blockchain technology and VR visualization to deliver immersive, actionable insights using secure data transmission. By embracing the proposed framework, manufacturers can unlock new potential for efficiency, sustainability, and resilience in today's increasingly complex and interconnected manufacturing workplace.

Presenting Author: Philip Samaha University of South Carolina

Presenting Author Biography: Philip Samaha is a graduate student currently pursuing his Master's degree at the University of South Carolina (USC) after completing his Bachelor's degree at Notre Dame University-Louaize (NDU) in Lebanon. With a passion for research and a keen interest in Blockchain Technology and Cyber-Security, Philip is dedicated to advancing knowledge in his field and plans to pursue a Ph.D. in the near future.

Authors:

Nitol Saha University of South Carolina
Philip Samaha University of South Carolina
Ramy Harik University of South Carolina