The automotive industry continues to be a hotbed of patent innovation. Activity in reliability modeling digital twins is driven by factors such as predictive maintenance optimization, adoption of Internet of Things (IoT), and focus on asset performance management, as well as growing importance of technologies such as IoT sensors, predictive analytics, and finite element analysis. 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: reliability modeling digital twinsBuy the report here.

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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.

Reliability modeling digital twins is a key innovation area in virtual and augmented reality

Reliability modeling digital twins refers to the use of digital twins, which are virtual replicas of physical assets or systems, to model the performance and reliability of those assets or systems over time. By simulating the behavior of a system under different conditions, digital twins can help predict potential failures and optimize maintenance schedules.

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 705+ companies, spanning technology vendors, established automotive companies, and up-and-coming start-ups engaged in the development and application of reliability modeling digital twins.

Key players in reliability modeling digital twins – 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 reliability modeling digital twins

Company Total patents (2021 - 2023) Premium intelligence on the world's largest companies
Huawei Investment & Holding 31 Unlock Company Profile
JFE 45 Unlock Company Profile
Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin 25 Unlock Company Profile
Toyota Motor 50 Unlock Company Profile
Baker Hughes 21 Unlock Company Profile
Baidu 34 Unlock Company Profile
Robert Bosch Stiftung 74 Unlock Company Profile
Siemens 54 Unlock Company Profile
Synopsys 24 Unlock Company Profile
Halliburton 46 Unlock Company Profile
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing 39 Unlock Company Profile
Zhejiang Geely 29 Unlock Company Profile
State Grid Corporation of China 39 Unlock Company Profile
Hitachi 37 Unlock Company Profile
Schlumberger 32 Unlock Company Profile
General Electric 52 Unlock Company Profile
Honda Motor 21 Unlock Company Profile
Mitsubishi Electric 21 Unlock Company Profile
General Motors 48 Unlock Company Profile
Groupe Industriel Marcel Dassault 36 Unlock Company Profile
ASML 23 Unlock Company Profile
Resonac 23 Unlock Company Profile
Altair Engineering 22 Unlock Company Profile
Veolia Environnement 23 Unlock Company Profile
International Business Machines 75 Unlock Company Profile
Accenture 21 Unlock Company Profile
Autodesk 32 Unlock Company Profile
Sumitomo Electric Industries 28 Unlock Company Profile
Ford Motor 31 Unlock Company Profile
Furukawa 41 Unlock Company Profile
Digital Global Systems 63 Unlock Company Profile
Samsung Group 47 Unlock Company Profile
Cambricon Technologies 25 Unlock Company Profile
Drishti Technologies 20 Unlock Company Profile
Hailo 37 Unlock Company Profile
Uni-President China 24 Unlock Company Profile

Source: GlobalData Patent Analytics

International Business Machines (IBM) is one of the leading patent filers in reliability modeling digital twins. Third parties can purchase and sell digital twin assets via the IBM Digital Twin Exchange, which provides an online marketplace. To have their digital twins uploaded and listed for sale in the IBM Digital Twin Exchange, providers of digital twins must pay an annual membership fee. Asset-intensive businesses, such as those using IBM Maximo Asset Management to manage digital assets across the whole enterprise, can benefit from the IBM Digital Twin Exchange. Manufacturers have the ease of managing their inventories, setting prices for their assets, and adding their digital twin content in bulk. Some other key patent filers in the space include Samsung Group, Robert Bosch Stiftung, and Siemens.

In terms of application diversity, Digital Global Systems leads the pack, while International Business Machines (IBM) and Samsung Group stood in the second and third positions, respectively. By means of geographic reach, Hailo held the top position, followed by Veolia Environnement and The Procter & Gamble Co.

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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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.