Abstract
Field: Robot identity systems; decentralized identifiers; hardware-bound network identity
Problem Solved: No prior robot network standard defines a decentralized, self-certifying identity system for robots that binds network identity to physical hardware, eliminates central identity gatekeepers, supports key rotation and compromise recovery, and provides cryptographically verifiable identity documents resolvable across a federated registry infrastructure.
Disclosure Summary: The Robot Identity Framework defines how every RP2P™ peer obtains a permanent, globally unique, cryptographically verifiable identity — the Robot Identifier — using the did:rp2p decentralized identifier method. The RID is derived from the genesis Ed25519 public key, making it self-certifying. An optional hardware binding block attests the AI Robot Port serial number, binding network identity to physical hardware.
Key Technical Details:
• RID format: did:rp2p: followed by multibase base58btc encoding of multicodec ed25519-pub and raw public key
• Example: did:rp2p:z6MkhaXgBZDvotDkL5257faiztiGiC2QtKLGpbnnEGta2doK
• RID is self-certifying — derived from genesis key, no central authority required
• RID is permanent for the peer’s operational life; ownership transfer recorded as control change not new RID
• Identity Document fields: id, controller, verificationMethod, authentication, service endpoints, hardwareBinding, created, updated, proof
• hardwareBinding block: rpnpPortSerial field containing AI Robot Port serial; attestation field containing TEE quote
• Genesis private key SHALL be generated on-device and SHALL never leave secure element or TEE in plaintext
• Key rotation: new verificationMethod signed by previous active key; overlap window maximum 72 hours
• Compromise recovery: exclusively through controller identity via Registry-published control assertion
• Four-message identity verification sequence: IDENTITY_REQUEST with nonce, IDENTITY_RESPONSE, IDENTITY_PROOF, IDENTITY_VERIFIED
• Identity Documents resolvable through Registries and served directly by the peer
Prior Art Differentiation: W3C DID Core defines the decentralized identifier framework for general use. RP2P™ defines the first application of decentralized identifiers specifically to robot network identity, with the additional original contribution of hardware binding to a physical robot port serial number — creating a cryptographic link between a robot’s network identity and its physical hardware that no prior identity framework defines.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Wang, Edward D. H., "Robot Identity Framework — Self-Certifying Decentralized Robot Identity with Hardware Binding to Physical Port Serial Number", Technical Disclosure Commons, ()
https://www.tdcommons.org/dpubs_series/10497