The automotive industry remains a hotbed of innovation, driven by factors such as occupant safety and improved in-car driving experiences, as well as the growing importance of technologies such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, sensors and machine learning. In the last three years alone, over 1.2 million patents have been filed and granted in the automotive industry, according to GlobalData’s report on Artificial Intelligence in Automotive: AI-assisted CAD.
But innovation is not always the same and does not follow a constant upward trend. Instead, their development takes the form of an S-shaped curve, reflecting their typical life cycle from early emergence to accelerated adoption before finally stabilizing and reaching maturity.
In order to understand where a particular innovation is on this journey, particularly those in the nascent and acceleration stages, it is important to understand the current level of their acceptance and the likely future evolution and impact they will have .
More than 290 innovations will shape the automotive industry
According to GlobalData’s Technology Foresights, which plots the S-curve for the automotive industry using innovation intensity models based on over 619,000 patents, there are over 290 innovation areas that will shape the future of the industry.
In the emerging innovation phase, manufacturability analysis, autonomous parking and lidar for vehicle collision avoidance are disruptive technologies that are in the early application stages and should be followed closely. Speed profile estimation, smart light dimmers, and driver drowsiness detection are some of the accelerating areas of innovation where adoption has steadily increased. Maturing areas of innovation include road grade estimation and adaptive cruise control, which are now well established in the industry.
Innovation S-curve for artificial intelligence in automotive industry
AI-powered CAD is a major area of innovation in artificial intelligence
AI is often integrated with CAD for automated decision making (ADM), which involves using AI algorithms to collect, process, model, and use data to support automated decisions. Finally, the decision-making feedback is reviewed and evaluated to improve the decision-making process.
GlobalData’s analysis also uncovers the companies at the forefront of each innovation area and assesses the potential reach and impact of their patenting activities across different applications and geographies. According to GlobalData, there are over 80 companies, including technology providers, established automotive companies and emerging startups, engaged in the development and application of AI-powered CAD.
Key players in AI-powered CAD – a disruptive innovation in the automotive industry
“Application Diversity” measures the number of different applications identified for each relevant patent, and broadly classifies companies as either “niche” or “diversified” innovators.
“Geographical Scope” refers to the number of different countries in which each relevant patent is registered and reflects the breadth of intended geographic application, ranging from “global” to “local”.
Patent volume related to AI-assisted CAD
Source: GlobalData Patent Analytics
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing is one of the leading innovators in AI-powered CAD. The company has developed breakthrough microelectronic technologies with integrated 3D circuit packaging. Huge sums of money have been invested in this chip development project by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing and the Japanese government to expand the scope of the CAD industry. Other companies innovating in this area of technology are Halliburton, General Motors, Bosch, Toyota Motors, Hitachi, etc.
To better understand how artificial intelligence is transforming the automotive industry, access GlobalData’s latest thematic research report on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the automotive industry.
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GlobalData, the leading provider of industry information, provided the underlying data, research, and analysis used to produce this article.
GlobalData’s patent analysis tracks patent applications and grants from official offices around the world. Text analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies in the world’s largest industries.
