The automotive industry continues to be a hotbed of patent innovation. Activity in augmented reality (AR)/virtual reality (VR) navigation interfaces is driven by factors such as increased adoption of AR/VR technologies, rise in enterprise applications, and navigation in smart cities, and growing importance of technologies such as gesture recognition, eye tracking, spatial computing, and sensor technologies. In the last three years alone, there have been over 720,000 patents filed and granted in the automotive industry, according to GlobalData’s report on Virtual and augmented reality in automotive: AR/VR navigation interfaces. Buy the report here.
According to GlobalData’s Technology Foresights, which uses over one million patents to analyze innovation intensity for the automotive industry, there are 300+ innovation areas that will shape the future of the industry.
AR/VR navigation interfaces is a key innovation area in virtual and augmented reality
AR/VR navigation interfaces refer to the use of augmented reality and virtual reality technologies to provide intuitive and immersive navigation experiences. These interfaces utilize head-up display devices and display devices in vehicles to project navigation information onto the windshield or a combiner, allowing the driver to view virtual images that overlay the real-world scene. AR/VR navigation interfaces improve situational awareness and offer more natural guidance by fusing navigation data with the driver’s field of vision.
GlobalData’s analysis also uncovers the companies at the forefront of each innovation area and assesses the potential reach and impact of their patenting activity across different applications and geographies. According to GlobalData, there are 335 companies, spanning technology vendors, established automotive companies, and up-and-coming start-ups engaged in the development and application of AR/VR navigation interfaces.
Key players in AR/VR navigation interfaces – a disruptive innovation in the automotive industry
‘Application diversity’ measures the number of applications identified for each patent. It broadly splits companies into either ‘niche’ or ‘diversified’ innovators.
‘Geographic reach’ refers to the number of countries each patent is registered in. It reflects the breadth of geographic application intended, ranging from ‘global’ to ‘local’.
Patent volumes related to AR/VR navigation interfaces
Source: GlobalData Patent Analytics
Denso is one of the leading patent filers in AR/VR navigation interfaces. The driver may more easily and naturally access important information about the car and its surroundings with Denso's head-up display (HUD), which presents a virtual screen three meters ahead of the driver without requiring them to shift their sight. By using external sensors, the technology shows pedestrian positions in addition to fundamental data such as speed limits and the vehicle's speed. Additionally, it offers lane direction aid using a vehicle navigation system with an arrow indicating which lane to follow at intersections and junctions. Some other key patent filers in the space include Panasonic, Nippon Seiki, and Yazaki.
In terms of application diversity, The Saudi Public Investment Fund leads the pack, while Sekisui Chemical Co and Toshiba stood in the second and third positions, respectively. By means of geographic reach, The Saudi Public Investment Fund held the top position, followed by Sekisui Chemical Co and Hitachi.
To further understand the key themes and technologies disrupting the automotive industry, access GlobalData’s latest thematic research report on Augmented Reality (AR) in Automotive.
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