The automotive industry continues to be a hotbed of patent innovation. Activity in dynamic stability control is driven by safety regulations to reduce accidents and fatalities, vehicle electrification and safety ratings, and growing importance of technologies such as machine learning, anti-lock braking system (ABS), traction control system (TCS), and electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD). 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 Innovation in automotive: dynamic stability control. 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, integrated multi-motor drivetrains, electric power steering (EPS), and post-collision handling are disruptive technologies that are in the early stages of application and should be tracked closely. Variable compression engines, V2V distance monitoring, and turbocharger shaft bearings are some of the accelerating innovation areas, where adoption has been steadily increasing. Among the maturing innovation areas are kinetic energy recovery system (KERS) and plasma-jet ignition, which are now well established in the industry.
Innovation S-curve for the automotive industry
Dynamic stability control is a key innovation area in automotive
Dynamic stability control refers to a system or method for managing and controlling the movement, acceleration, and stability of a vehicle. This can involve balancing the torque and power applied to different axles or wheels, as well as monitoring and adjusting the vehicle's speed, acceleration, and braking to maintain stability and traction in different driving conditions.
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 dynamic stability control.
Key players in dynamic stability control – 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 dynamic stability control
Source: GlobalData Patent Analytics
Toyota Motors is one of the leading patent filers in dynamic stability control. The automaker uses dynamic stability control to provide enhanced cornering brake control, with braking force applied to specific wheels to maintain stability and control during sharp turns. It also uses dynamic stability control for enhanced traction control systems to optimize wheel slip and traction under various driving conditions and improve stability. Some other key patent filers in this space include Honda Motor and Ford Motor.
In terms of application diversity, Melrose Industries leads the pack, while BYD and BD Auto and Energy stood in the second and third positions respectively. By means of geographic reach, Israel Aerospace held the top position, followed by BD Auto and Energy and Hyliion.
To further understand the key themes and technologies disrupting the automotive industry, access GlobalData’s latest thematic research report on 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.
