Autonomous vehicles

Robotaxis are proving they can offer driverless services in certain cities, as a means of accessible and modern public transport. In 2023, IDTechEx reports that 9 million registered autonomous vehicle miles were logged across the state. Key leaders in this commercial autonomous vehicle and robotaxi space are Waymo, having submitted half of all the miles recorded in California to date, and Cruise, which, although accounted for 30% of these miles, has recently been shut down.

Wednesday 29 January 2025 - State of the industry update on autonomous cars and factors driving demand for higher-performance radars; State-of-the-art technology from tier ones; Next-generation technologies from start-ups; Longer-term prospects for automotive radar

Sensor technology comes in many shapes and sizes, designed to measure a wide range of metrics for a host of different applications. There are sensors to collect data from almost all physical parameters: motion, magnetic field, current, temperature, force-light intensity - the list goes on. These miniaturized components are everywhere, from our smart-phones and home appliances to within cars, factories, and satellites.

Developments within the autonomous truck industry can be seen to create new pathways for long-haul trucking, with opportunities for driver incentives and both financial and energy efficiencies. Worldwide regulations prove that the market is expanding and that there is interest from governments to get autonomous trucks tested and in use in the near future.

IDTechEx predicts that 2024 and the coming couple of years will be seen as the hockey-stick moment for robotaxis. Companies across the US and China are preparing for a mass roll-out of services. Cruise was one of the early leaders in robotaxi development, getting off to a good start and attracting the attention of General Motors who acquired the company in 2016. However, in December 2024 it appears that GM and Cruise's robotaxi endeavour is coming to a premature end.

Industrial Internet of Things sensor technology (IIoT) seeks to enable greater industrial automation, improved worker safety, and streamlined maintenance planning. From cameras, LiDAR, and radar for machine vision in robotics, to skin patches and miniaturized gas sensors in smart personal protection equipment, emerging IIoT applications present growth opportunities for a variety of sensor technologies.

Over a million cars today use long-wave infrared (LWIR) as an add-on within optional night driving systems. By 2027, IDTechEx predicts that these infrared cameras will be commonly installed as part of ADAS systems, providing night vision and abilities to either kickstart the autonomous emergency braking (AEB) system or alert the driver.

The development of autonomous buses and roboshuttles is likely to continue somewhat slowly due to a lack of funding and regulatory challenges. However, IDTechEx highlights the next stages of developments within their report, and with the already commercialized examples of autonomous city buses and minibusses, success in the industry is increasingly likely.

Autonomous driving technologies have seemingly been on the horizon for the last decade, maybe more. Over the past four years, level 3 technologies have been certified for consumer use on public roads, hands-off/eyes-on driving has solidified as a market segment, and commercial driverless robotaxi services have become available to the public.

How will thermal long-wave infrared (LWIR) cameras become a US$500m market for autonomous emergency braking (AEB)? Find out in this brief summary by IDTechEx Technology Analyst, John Li.