The automotive industry continues to be a hotbed of patent innovation. Activity is driven by technological advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, consumer demand for safety features, and regulatory requirements, and growing importance of technologies such as computer vision and cameras, LiDAR and radar sensors, machine learning and AI, and sensor fusion. In the last three years alone, there have been over 1.7 million patents filed and granted in the automotive industry, according to GlobalData’s report on Artificial intelligence in automotive: adaptive driver alerting. 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 stabilizing 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.

300+ 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 one million patents, there are 300+ innovation areas that will shape the future of the industry.

Within the emerging innovation stage, autonomous on-demand logistics, end-to-end learning models, and adaptive driver alerting are disruptive technologies that are in the early stages of application and should be tracked closely. Vehicular vision, adaptive cruise control, and predictive acceleration control are some of the accelerating innovation areas, where adoption has been steadily increasing.

Innovation S-curve for artificial intelligence in the automotive industry

Adaptive driver alerting is a key innovation area in artificial intelligence

Adaptive driver alerting refers to the use of various technologies and systems to monitor the driving environment and the condition of the driver, and provide alerts or notifications to enhance safety and improve driving performance. These alerts can be based on factors such as the vehicle's surroundings, the driver's behavior, and the overall driving conditions. Adaptive driver alerting systems aim to prevent accidents, reduce driver fatigue, and enhance situational awareness.

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 30+ companies, spanning technology vendors, established automotive companies, and up-and-coming start-ups engaged in the development and application of adaptive driver alerting.

Key players in adaptive driver alerting – 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 adaptive driver alerting

Company Total patents (2021 - 2023) Premium intelligence on the world's largest companies
Hyundai Mobis 19 Unlock Company Profile
Huawei Investment & Holding 8 Unlock Company Profile
State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance 85 Unlock Company Profile
Toyota Motor 37 Unlock Company Profile
Baidu 12 Unlock Company Profile
Alphabet 10 Unlock Company Profile
Robert Bosch Stiftung 10 Unlock Company Profile
Zhejiang Geely 5 Unlock Company Profile
Hyundai Motor 27 Unlock Company Profile
Nissan Motor 6 Unlock Company Profile
Lear 5 Unlock Company Profile
Allstate 15 Unlock Company Profile
Mitsubishi Electric 19 Unlock Company Profile
Panasonic 26 Unlock Company Profile
ResMed 8 Unlock Company Profile
Porsche Automobil 6 Unlock Company Profile
General Motors 8 Unlock Company Profile
Omron 5 Unlock Company Profile
Samvardhana Motherson International 5 Unlock Company Profile
Sony Group 15 Unlock Company Profile
LG 48 Unlock Company Profile
International Business Machines 6 Unlock Company Profile
Denso 13 Unlock Company Profile
Kia 23 Unlock Company Profile
Intel 6 Unlock Company Profile
Ford Motor 17 Unlock Company Profile
Hi-Tech Robotic Systemz 5 Unlock Company Profile
Nio 4 Unlock Company Profile
Beijing TuSimple Future Technology 9 Unlock Company Profile
Stradvision 11 Unlock Company Profile
Omron Tateisi Electronics 11 Unlock Company Profile
Zeppelin-Stiftung 10 Unlock Company Profile

Source: GlobalData Patent Analytics

State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance is one of the leading patent filers in adaptive driver alerting. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance has patents related to multimodal sensing, in which advanced driver alerting systems integrate multiple sensing technologies to enhance the accuracy of monitoring. This includes combining data from cameras, infrared sensors, steering sensors, and other sources to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the driver's behavior and state. Toyota Motors, LG, and Panasonic, are some of the other patent filers in adaptive driver alerting.

In terms of application diversity, Nissan Motor leads the pack. Allstate and ResMed stood in the second and third positions respectively. By means of geographic reach, State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co held the top position followed by Stradvision and Alphabet.

To further understand the key themes and technologies disrupting the automotive industry, access GlobalData’s latest thematic research report on Artificial Intelligence (AI) 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.