MAVLink ZKP Proxy 🕛 - Midnight Network Enabled Telemetry and Consensus in Decentralized Drone Swarm Control

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Mihai Bărbulescu

[GENERAL] Are you delivering this project as an individual or as an entity (whether formally incorporated or not)

Entity (Incorporated)

[GENERAL] Please specify how many months you expect your project to last (from 2-12 months)

10

[GENERAL] Please indicate if your proposal has been auto-translated into English from another language

No

[GENERAL] Summarize your solution to the problem (200-character limit including spaces)

We will develop a decentralized drone swarm control system using MAVLink, ZKP, and the Midnight Network to ensure secure telemetry, privacy, and consensus-driven fault tolerance.

[GENERAL] Does your project have any dependencies on other organizations, technical or otherwise?

Yes

[GENERAL] If YES, please describe what the dependency is and why you believe it is essential for your project’s delivery. If NO, please write “No dependencies.”

The project depends on access to the Midnight Network for blockchain consensus and ZKP integration. Additionally, the project requires MAVLink and MAVProxy protocol usage for drone telemetry, and support from drone hardware providers may be needed.

[GENERAL] Will your project’s output/s be fully open source?

Yes

[GENERAL] Please provide here more information on the open source status of your project outputs

We plan to make the core MAVLink integration and telemetry components open source under the MIT license to encourage collaboration and adoption. The advanced ZKP and Midnight Network-based consensus features will remain closed-source to preserve commercial viability.

[METADATA] Horizons

IoT

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

Our project, MAVLink ZKP Proxy 🕛 - Midnight Network Enabled Telemetry and Consensus in Decentralized Drone Swarm Control, aims to solve the problem of insecure and centralized control of drone swarms by developing a secure, decentralized solution using blockchain technology.

We will:

• Implement a decentralized drone swarm control system using the MAVLink protocol for communication and telemetry.
• Integrate Zero Knowledge Proofs (ZKP) via the Midnight Network to ensure the privacy and security of real-time drone data and telemetry.
• Use the Midnight Network's consensus mechanism to enable fault tolerance, ensuring that drones can continue to operate autonomously and collaboratively even in the event of communication failures.

This approach is unique because it leverages blockchain technology and ZKP to provide a secure, scalable, and privacy-preserving solution for decentralized drone operations, an area currently underserved by existing technologies.

Why This Approach?

• Security and Privacy: By integrating ZKP, we ensure that sensitive data (such as mission objectives, drone positions, and telemetry) is protected, only accessible to authorized parties without revealing unnecessary information.
• Decentralization: Moving away from centralized control ensures that the drone swarm is more resilient, fault-tolerant, and not reliant on a single point of control, which is critical in high-stakes scenarios like defense or disaster relief.
• Blockchain for Consensus: The Midnight Network's consensus mechanisms ensure that the drones act collaboratively, allowing for real-time coordination even when communication with a central ground station is compromised.

Who Will Benefit?

• Enterprises and government agencies using drone swarms for surveillance, environmental monitoring, search-and-rescue missions, or logistics will benefit from a secure, fault-tolerant system.
• Developers and researchers in the fields of blockchain and IoT will benefit from the open-source components, allowing them to extend and adapt the technology for new use cases.

Why is this important for Cardano?

This project aligns with Cardano's vision of a decentralized and secure future by showcasing how blockchain, and specifically the Midnight Network, can be applied to real-world, mission-critical IoT and autonomous systems. The project will also bring increased visibility to the Cardano ecosystem within the IoT and drone control space.

[IMPACT] Please define the positive impact your project will have on the wider Cardano community

Our project, MAVLink ZKP Proxy 🕛, will demonstrate the practical application of the Midnight Network and Zero Knowledge Proofs (ZKP) within the drone and IoT sectors, showcasing how Cardano’s blockchain can address real-world issues of privacy, security, and decentralization.

Value to the Cardano Community:

• Technical Innovation: The project will push the boundaries of blockchain in the IoT space, encouraging further development of decentralized solutions. This project highlights the utility of Cardano’s blockchain technology in autonomous systems, particularly drone swarms, setting a precedent for future developments.

• Expanded Ecosystem: The project will attract IoT and drone developers into the Cardano ecosystem, increasing adoption of the Midnight Network and positioning Cardano as a leader in privacy-first, decentralized IoT solutions.

Measuring Impact:

• Quantitative:
• Adoption Metrics: We will track the number of developers engaging with the open-source code, forks, and contributions.
• Deployment Metrics: The number of organizations or entities utilizing the decentralized drone control system.

• Qualitative:
• Feedback from community developers and early adopters.
• Collaborations with industry leaders in IoT and drone technology to showcase practical applications of Cardano’s blockchain.

Sharing Outputs and Opportunities:

• Open Source Contribution: Core components related to MAVLink and telemetry will be made publicly available under the MIT license. This will allow the wider community to build upon our solution and create new innovations.

• Public Case Studies: We will publish reports and case studies demonstrating the project's success and outcomes, providing transparent insights into the real-world impact.

• Workshops and Webinars: We will host virtual sessions for Cardano developers to explore the technology and learn how to implement and extend it for other use cases.

[CAPABILITY & FEASIBILITY] What is your capability to deliver your project with high levels of trust and accountability? How do you intend to validate if your approach is feasible?

Capability & Feasibility:

Our team, under the Romanian Cyber Space Initiative (ROCSI), is dedicated to advancing cutting-edge technologies such as Web3, blockchain, AI, UAV research, physics simulations, and governance tooling. With a deep understanding of decentralized systems and emerging technologies, we are well-equipped to deliver this project.

Mihai Bărbulescu, the project lead, brings over 20 years of experience in decentralized collaborations based on managing remote teams, blockchain, and AI-driven projects. As a member of the Board of Advisors for VeterinaryDAO and with experience working on projects involving blockchain technology, Mihai has demonstrated his ability to lead innovative, scalable initiatives. His past work at SingularityNET, Cogito Protocol, and Rejuve.AI has solidified his expertise in blockchain marketing, governance, and AI, providing a strong foundation for the success of this project.

Our core team has successfully managed complex projects in the past, from Web3 marketing strategies to the development of blockchain-based solutions for AI research.

We have a proven track record of delivering on time and within budget, and we adhere to strict project management processes, including regular milestones, deliverable reviews, and transparent financial reporting.

Validation of Feasibility:

1. Clear Milestones: We will set and track clear, measurable milestones throughout the project, ensuring timely delivery of each phase (telemetry, ZKP integration, consensus mechanisms).
2. Financial Management: With experience in managing crowdfunding campaigns, we have successfully raised and managed funds for previous projects. Our team will use best practices for budgeting and financial tracking, ensuring that all resources are allocated efficiently.
3. Collaborations: We will leverage our industry network to collaborate with experts in IoT, blockchain, and UAV technologies, validating each stage of development with technical experts and real-world testing environments.

[PROJECT MILESTONES] What are the key milestones you need to achieve in order to complete your project successfully?

Initial Project Setup and Requirements Specification

A. Milestone Outputs:

• Establish the project infrastructure and development environment.
• Complete the detailed project requirements and specifications for:
• MAVLink integration.
• Telemetry and data logging.
• Consensus mechanism using the Midnight Network.
• ZKP-based privacy features.

B. Acceptance Criteria:

• The project environment is fully set up and operational.
• Detailed requirements and technical specifications are completed and approved.
• A project plan with clear timelines and responsibilities is finalized.

C. Evidence of Milestone Completion:

• Documentation of the project infrastructure and environment setup.
• A finalized technical specification document.
• Project timelines and assigned team roles.

Development of MAVLink Integration and Telemetry System

A. Milestone Outputs:

• Implement MAVLink communication protocols for drone swarm control.
• Develop the telemetry system for real-time data collection and logging from drones.
• Build a basic dashboard for visualizing drone telemetry and communication logs.

B. Acceptance Criteria:

• MAVLink is integrated and functioning as expected for controlling a basic drone swarm.
• Telemetry data (e.g., location, speed, flight status) is collected, logged, and visible in the dashboard.
• Initial testing with at least two drones to ensure proper communication and telemetry.

C. Evidence of Milestone Completion:

• Functional MAVLink integration codebase.
• Real-time telemetry data visible on the dashboard during test flights.
• Demonstration video showing drone control and telemetry data capture.

Integration of Midnight Network for Consensus and Fault Tolerance

A. Milestone Outputs:

• Integrate the Midnight Network’s blockchain for decentralized drone swarm control.
• Implement the consensus mechanism to allow drones to operate collaboratively and make decisions in the event of communication failures.
• Ensure fault tolerance for drone swarms, enabling seamless operation even when certain drones are disconnected from the central control.

B. Acceptance Criteria:

• The Midnight Network is successfully integrated into the drone swarm system.
• The consensus mechanism is operational, allowing drones to continue collaborating even when communication is interrupted.
• Initial testing with multiple drones to validate consensus and fault tolerance.

C. Evidence of Milestone Completion:

• Working code for the Midnight Network integration.
• Test logs demonstrating consensus between drones during network interruptions.
• Demonstration video showing fault-tolerant behavior in a live drone test.

ZKP Privacy Integration and Security Testing

A. Milestone Outputs:

• Implement Zero Knowledge Proofs (ZKP) for secure and private communication between drones.
• Develop the mechanism for selective data disclosure and verification using ZKPs.
• Conduct security testing to ensure that drone telemetry and data remain private and tamper-proof.

B. Acceptance Criteria:

• ZKP functionality is integrated and operational within the drone swarm system.
• Successful implementation of selective disclosure of telemetry data, allowing only authorized parties to access specific information.
• Initial security testing shows no major vulnerabilities or privacy leaks.

C. Evidence of Milestone Completion:

• Working codebase for ZKP implementation.
• Security test reports with results showing proper privacy protections.
• Demonstration video showing ZKP functionality and secure data communication.

Full System Testing, Optimization, and User Interface Enhancements

A. Milestone Outputs:

• Conduct comprehensive system testing, including stress tests with multiple drones and various network conditions.
• Optimize performance for telemetry, consensus, and ZKP features to ensure smooth operation in real-world scenarios.
• Refine the user interface (UI) for the telemetry dashboard to make it more user-friendly and accessible.

B. Acceptance Criteria:

• The system runs successfully with a larger number of drones and under different conditions (e.g., varying network strengths, drone failures).
• Optimization shows improved performance in terms of communication latency, consensus speed, and telemetry data collection.
• UI enhancements are complete, with feedback from early users integrated into the final design.

C. Evidence of Milestone Completion:

• Test logs and reports showing successful system operation with multiple drones and optimized performance.
• Feedback reports from initial users.
• Demonstration video showcasing the refined UI and optimized system functionality.

Project Close-out, Documentation, and Reporting

A. Milestone Outputs:

• Compile a comprehensive Project Close-out Report detailing the entire development process, challenges faced, solutions implemented, and the final outcome.
• Record and submit a Project Close-out Video demonstrating the fully functional system, including key features like MAVLink telemetry, Midnight Network consensus, and ZKP privacy integration.
• Finalize user documentation for deploying and using the drone swarm system.
• Share the open-source components (e.g., MAVLink integration) via a public repository.

B. Acceptance Criteria:

• The Project Close-out Report is submitted with all relevant documentation and findings.
• The Project Close-out Video successfully demonstrates the working solution.
• All open-source code is published and accessible to the community, with proper documentation for developers.

C. Evidence of Milestone Completion:

• Project Close-out Report and Video submitted.
• Published open-source code with developer documentation.
• Feedback from stakeholders confirming project completion and review of deliverables.

[RESOURCES] Who is in the project team and what are their roles?

Mihai Bărbulescu - Lead Developer and Project Manager

LinkedIn

Mihai Bărbulescu is the main developer and project lead for this initiative. With over 20 years of experience in decentralized collaborations, blockchain, AI, and UAV research, Mihai will oversee the project's architecture, development, and integration of MAVLink, ZKP, and the Midnight Network. His extensive experience working on Web3 and blockchain initiatives, as well as managing technical teams, positions him as the core driver of the project's success.

Supporting Roles (Consultants and Collaborators to be Recruited):

1. Blockchain and ZKP Specialist: A consultant with expertise in blockchain technology and Zero Knowledge Proofs (ZKP) will assist in implementing the ZKP-based privacy layer and the integration with the Midnight Network.
2. UAV Systems Engineer: A drone hardware specialist, likely recruited from the community or a UAV hardware manufacturer, will provide insights and support for integrating MAVLink into custom-built or commercial drones, ensuring the system functions properly with diverse drone platforms.
3. UI/UX Designer: A UI/UX expert will be engaged to enhance the telemetry dashboard interface, ensuring that the system's front end is intuitive and user-friendly, especially for operators managing multiple drones.
4. Security Consultant: A security expert will conduct rigorous testing of the privacy and fault tolerance systems, ensuring that the project meets high-security standards, particularly around the ZKP-based privacy mechanisms.

These roles will ensure the project’s success and that the scope and requirements are fully understood. We are prepared to engage with experts from both the blockchain and drone-building communities as needed during development.

[BUDGET & COSTS] Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources

Development Resources (₳40,000)

• Mihai Bărbulescu (Lead Developer): Responsible for the core development work, including MAVLink integration, ZKP implementation, and Midnight Network integration.
• Additional Developer Support: If needed, additional development resources will be contracted for specific tasks (e.g., blockchain and security).

Consultants (₳35,000)

• Blockchain and ZKP Specialist (₳15,000): Assisting with the integration of ZKP privacy and consensus mechanisms using the Midnight Network.
• UAV Systems Engineer (₳10,000): Drone hardware specialist providing insights on integration and testing.
• Security Consultant (₳10,000): Conducting privacy and fault tolerance testing to ensure robust security measures are in place.

Drone Hardware and Testing (₳25,000)

• UAV Equipment: Acquiring drones, sensors, and accessories for testing and development.
• Testing Environment: Costs associated with setting up a controlled testing environment for drone swarm testing.
• Repairs and Maintenance: Covering any unforeseen costs for repairing hardware during testing.

UI/UX Design and Front-end Development (₳15,000)

• UI/UX Designer: Responsible for creating and refining the telemetry dashboard to ensure a user-friendly experience.
• Front-end Development: Implementing UI features and enhancing dashboard performance based on user feedback.

Project Management and Documentation (₳10,000)

• Project Management: Managing the timeline, milestones, and coordination with consultants.
• Documentation: Preparing comprehensive documentation for the open-source release and the project’s final reports.

Miscellaneous Costs (₳10,000)

• Licenses and Software Tools: Purchasing any necessary licenses for third-party tools or software.
• Marketing and Outreach: Promoting the open-source components and sharing the project’s outcomes with the community.
• Contingency: Allocating a small budget for unforeseen expenses.

[VALUE FOR MONEY] How does the cost of the project represent value for money for the Cardano ecosystem?

The requested budget of ₳135,000 represents significant value for the Cardano ecosystem, particularly in terms of advancing blockchain technology into new IoT sectors, such as UAV/drone swarm control. Here’s why:

Proportional Costs:

• The costs are aligned with the typical market rates for blockchain development, privacy-focused security solutions, and UAV hardware integration. For example, blockchain and ZKP specialists often command high consulting fees due to the technical expertise required, which is reflected in the consulting budget.
• The developer and consultant costs are proportional to the average industry wage for such specialized roles, particularly in the Web3 and IoT sectors. These rates are benchmarked against the Romanian market, which is known for offering high-quality technical expertise at competitive rates compared to global averages.

Efficient Use of Resources:

• By leveraging open-source components (MAVLink integration) and relying on a lean development team led by an experienced developer (Mihai Bărbulescu), the project minimizes unnecessary overhead while maximizing output. This efficiency ensures that the project remains cost-effective.
• Hardware and testing costs are kept within reasonable bounds by focusing on DIY and 3D-printed drone solutions, which reduce the need for expensive commercial UAV equipment.

Long-term Ecosystem Benefits:

• The project is not just a short-term initiative but a foundational contribution to Cardano’s expansion into IoT and drone control sectors. The open-source telemetry system will allow other developers to build upon it, encouraging further innovation within the ecosystem.
• The integration of the Midnight Network and ZKP technology will showcase Cardano’s capabilities in privacy-first blockchain solutions, attracting new developers and companies interested in these emerging technologies.

Scalability and Impact:

• The project provides a scalable solution that can be extended beyond drones to other IoT devices. As such, the return on investment is amplified, since the same framework can be adapted to future use cases, generating continued value for the ecosystem.
• The project's success will likely attract new use cases and investment into Cardano's ecosystem, positioning Cardano as a leader in privacy-centric, decentralized IoT solutions.