The automotive industry continues to be a hotbed of innovation, with activity driven by, among other things, the safety of pedestrians or cyclists and the growing importance of technologies such as electrification, connected and autonomous. Acoustic vehicle signalling devices are mostly fitted in electric or hybrid vehicles or of the same types. In many countries, they are not just an option, but are required accessories for nearly silent electric vehicles to improve safety, as per government regulations. The innovation involves a wider approach for better road safety. In the last three years alone, there have been over 1.2 million patents filed and granted in the automotive industry, according to GlobalData’s report on Internet of Things in Automotive: Acoustic vehicle signalling devices. Buy the report here.
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However, not all innovations are equal and nor do they follow a constant upward trend. Instead, their evolution takes the form of an S-shaped curve that reflects their typical lifecycle from early emergence to accelerating adoption, before finally stabilising and reaching maturity.
Identifying where a particular innovation is on this journey, especially those that are in the emerging and accelerating stages, is essential for understanding their current level of adoption and the likely future trajectory and impact they will have.
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 built on over 619,000 patents, there are 290+ innovation areas that will shape the future of the industry.
Within the emerging innovation stage, smart car seats, tyre sensors, and predictive maintenance systems are disruptive technologies that are in the early stages of application and should be tracked closely. Acoustic vehicle signalling devices, brake temperature monitoring, and autonomous parking are some of the accelerating innovation areas, where adoption has been steadily increasing. Among maturing innovation areas are disc brake actuators and AI-assisted dimming, which are now well established in the industry.
Innovation S-curve for Internet of Things in the automotive industry
Acoustic vehicle signalling devices is a key innovation area in Internet of Things
The Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System (AVAS) duplicates the noise of a combustion engine in the lower speed range in order to warn other road users of an approaching vehicle.
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 20+ companies, spanning technology vendors, established automotive companies, and up-and-coming start-ups engaged in the development and application of acoustic vehicle signalling devices.
Key players in Acoustic vehicle signalling devices – a disruptive innovation in the automotive industry
‘Application diversity’ measures the number of different applications identified for each relevant patent and broadly splits companies into either ‘niche’ or ‘diversified’ innovators.
‘Geographic reach’ refers to the number of different countries each relevant patent is registered in and reflects the breadth of geographic application intended, ranging from ‘global’ to ‘local’.
Patent volumes related to acoustic vehicle signalling devices
Source: GlobalData Patent Analytics
Denso, being the key player in this segment of AVAS, has been providing solutions with innovation technologies for electric and hybrid vehicles. The company deals with a wide range of parts and accessories in electrical and electronics, with 53 patents filed for AVAS technology alone. Other patent filers in this space are Porsche Automobil Holding, Hyundai and Pioneer.
To further understand how Internet of Things is disrupting the automotive industry, access GlobalData’s latest thematic research report on Internet of Things (IoT) in Automotive.
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GlobalData, the leading provider of industry intelligence, provided the underlying data, research, and analysis used to produce this article.
GlobalData’s Patent Analytics tracks patent filings and grants from official offices around the world. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.
