Project manager Prof Dr Christoph Reich in the HFU server room Image credit: Furtwangen University, photographer: Bernd Müller
Blockchain technology at Furtwangen University makes industrial digital twins more secure
In industry, many machines now exist in dual form – as a physical device and as a digital representation – the so‑called digital twin. At Furtwangen University (HFU), the “Block DT” research project is working on making digital twins more secure and more sustainable.
The digital twin of a machine includes, for example, data on models, functional descriptions and, additionally in this project, parameters for calculating CO2 emissions. Based on these values, maintenance of the real machine can be planned more effectively, downtimes can be avoided and processes optimised. Digital twins are therefore extremely valuable for companies, but it is crucial to ensure that data cannot be manipulated or otherwise falsified.
This is where the “Block DT” project comes in. The aim is to develop a digital passport that permanently links a machine with its digital twin, thereby safeguarding important data throughout its entire lifecycle. Some key pieces of information included in the machine passport are the unique identifier, a digital nameplate, technical specifications, maintenance history and software‑related details.
Blockchain as a basis for trust
To protect the data contained in the digital passport, the Block DT team uses the “Ethereum blockchain”. A blockchain is a digital database whose special feature is, that it is not stored on a single server, but rather simultaneously on thousands of computers worldwide. Each new piece of information is added as a “block” to the existing chain of entries. Once stored, data cannot be tampered with. The Ethereum model builds on this technology and expands it to include so‑called smart contracts. These are automated programs which replace manual intervention, thereby reducing the risk of manipulation and errors.
“The digital machine passport, based on the Ethereum blockchain, provides a secure and transparent means of managing data and CO2 emissions. This new approach strengthens trust in cross‑company data exchange, improves traceability and, in the Block DT project, also supports the transparent calculation of CO2‑related applications,” says Prof Dr Christoph Reich, project manager and Vice‑President for Research and Sustainability at HFU.
The “Block DT” project is funded by the Baden‑Württemberg Stiftung until November 2026.
Further information about the project is available on the Furtwangen University website: Internal link opens in the same window:https://hfu.li/cdvb