BoAT FAQ: Q1-What is the BoAT?

All you need to know about the BoAT, one-stop delivery

The Internet of Things era is constantly evolving with major progress underway. With the explosion of Internet traffic, the massive demand for data has led to the rise of the Internet of Things. The collection and storage of data in the cloud is tipping the scale in importance and becoming the main collective location to store information. Simultaneously, we witness ever broader implementation of blockchain technology, where smart contracts, deposit and verification of rights, decentralized identity management, non-standard asset management, financial risk control, etc., are creatively being applied in various scenarios.

aitos.io is compiling an ongoing series of articles, appropriately titled “BoAT Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)” with the goal of introducing BoAT blockchain application framework to the community. As an innovative product integrating blockchain and IoT technology, BoAT provides the ability and value to argument the flow of trusted IoT data. The synergistic Combination of blockchain and IoT helps increase IoT data value. The specific value extracted from the data depends on many factors, of which trustworthiness is the most important factor; with fake data being utterly worthless. The blockchain ensures the tamper resistance and traceability of data on the chain, but it is still impossible to tell whether the data is authentic or not until it is uploaded to the blockchain. Ensuring that data is credible from the source of collection (at the edge) is an important cornerstone for the measure of data value.

The BoAT Blockchain application framework enables IoT devices to access blockchain services. Not only can IoT devices send data collected end-to-end into the cloud, an IoT device can also send data fingerprints to the blockchain via a BoAT embedded blockchain client. Third-party consumers of the data can then obtain a data fingerprint from the blockchain and check whether the data fingerprint matches the original data collected.

Launched by aitos.io, the BoAT is an embedded blockchain application framework for IoT devices that provides IoT devices with the ability to upload trusted data to the blockchain while helping to access blockchain services.

The BoAT was written in C language, is embedded in IoT devices, and designed to run on processor chips as a software library to allow for a unified calling interface for upper-layer applications.

When Cellular modules support openCPU, the BoAT library is linked by the IoT application, empowering the IoT device with the ability to access blockchain services.

For non-OpenCPU cellular modules, the BoAT library is linked by the module’s firmware, and AT commands can be extended by the module manufacturer to be called by upper -layer IoT applications

BoAT IoT application Features include:

● Blockchain wallet initialization, installation, management, and uninstallation

● Initiation of on-chain transactions

● Invocation of smart contracts

● Automatic code generation of smart contract C interface code

● Blockchain wallet and business-related key generation and storage.

BoAT adopts a modular design, which can be adapting and integrated into various IoT devices, enabling IoT applications to access blockchain services, and compliments related services such as data uploading on chain, data attestation, and the invokation of smart contracts. The BoAT also supports a variety of secure containers, such as eSIM, eSE, TEE, etc., to provide full lifecycle management for secure key generation and secure storage for the IoT devices.

BoAT supports established IoT cellular module and chip platforms; its also compatible with mainstream blockchain platforms.

To access complete technical content on the BoAT, please visit our Github address: https://github.com/aitos-io/BoAT-X-Framework

About aitos.io

aitos.io is a technology start-up focusing on the integrated innovation of IoT and Blockchain. By combining its own rich resources in the IoT industry, aitos.io has raised the standard for an open-sourced blockchain application framework BoAT (Blockchain of AI Things) with delivered via IoT chipset and module to enable IoT devices quickly implement trusted data on-chain and access the blockchain services. At the end of 2019, aitos.io and nine mainstream cellular wireless module manufacturers jointly initiated the Blockchain IoT Module alliance, and successively released their own brands of BoAT blockchain module products. This resulted in hundreds of millions of IoT devices equipped with the capability of blockchain services access as a trusted entry of IoT+Blockchain application. aitos.io’s vision is to leverage an alliance of global IoT vendors to empower them to tap the value of applications and data.

At the beginning of the project launch in the end of 2018, aitos.io received angel investment from the IoT industry expert group and strategic investment from Wanxiang Blockchain. In December 2018, aitos.io was awarded membership into ARM Accelerator Camp. In June 2019, aitos.io emerged as the founding member of China Unicom IoT and Wanxiang Blockchain IoT+Blockchain Joint Innovation Center. In November, aitos.io became a empowerment partner of Microsoft’s AI and IoT Lab . In August 2020, aitos.io transitioned into Tencent’s Blockchain Accelerator program as the first member. In February 2021, aitos.io joined RISC-V International as strategic member and initiated to form new Blockchain SIG (special interest group). In April, aitos.io initiated 1st China technical requirements standards for trusted blockchain access of IoT terminals.