  Swarms of robots will revolutionize many industrial applications, from
targeted material delivery to precision farming. However, several of the
heterogeneous characteristics that make them ideal for certain future
applications --- robot autonomy, decentralized control, collective emergent
behavior, etc. --- hinder the evolution of the technology from academic
institutions to real-world problems. Blockchain, an emerging technology
originated in the Bitcoin field, demonstrates that by combining peer-to-peer
networks with cryptographic algorithms a group of agents can reach an agreement
on a particular state of affairs and record that agreement without the need for
a controlling authority. The combination of blockchain with other distributed
systems, such as robotic swarm systems, can provide the necessary capabilities
to make robotic swarm operations more secure, autonomous, flexible and even
profitable. This work explains how blockchain technology can provide innovative
solutions to four emergent issues in the swarm robotics research field. New
security, decision making, behavior differentiation and business models for
swarm robotic systems are described by providing case scenarios and examples.
Finally, limitations and possible future problems that arise from the
combination of these two technologies are described.
