The automotive industry continues to be a hotbed of patent innovation. Activity in variable strength airbag fabrics is driven by safety demands, materials science advancements, cost reduction, and sustainable vehicle adoption, and growing importance of technologies such as hybrid fiber composites, shape memory polymers, and 3D printing. 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 Innovation in automotive: variable strength airbag fabrics. 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, multi-spark ignition, integrated multi-motor drivetrains and vehicle auxiliary drives are disruptive technologies that are in the early stages of application and should be tracked closely. Solar range extenders, turbocharger shaft bearings, and multi-lamellar clutches are some of the accelerating innovation areas, where adoption has been steadily increasing. Among maturing innovation areas are auto-transmission lubrication circuits and electroluminscent vehicle displays, which are now well established in the industry.
Innovation S-curve for the automotive industry
Variable strength airbag fabrics is a key innovation area in automotive
Variable strength airbag fabrics refer to fabrics used in the manufacturing of airbags that have varying levels of strength across different areas. These fabrics can be composed of different materials and processes to provide the necessary strength and durability for effective airbag deployment and protection.
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 variable strength airbag fabrics.
Key players in variable strength airbag fabrics – 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 variable strength airbag fabrics
Source: GlobalData Patent Analytics
Toyobo is one of the top patent filers in variable strength airbag fabrics, which can be used to enhance airbag safety and reduce injury risks in passenger cars, commercial vehicles, and off-highway vehicles. Some other key patent filers in this space include Toray Industries and Kolon.
In terms of application diversity, Toyobo leads the pack, while Toray Industries and Kolon stood in the second and third positions, respectively. By means of geographic reach, Milliken held the top position, followed by Unifrax I and Toyobo.
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.
