The technology industry continues to be a hotbed of innovation, with activity driven by progress in robotics technology, characterised by enhancements in sensors, machine learning, and artificial intelligence, propelling the creation of robots that possess superior capabilities and versatility thereby growing importance of technologies such as GPS, inertial sensors, cameras, LiDAR, radar, and ultrasound sensors. VTOLs may also use advanced materials and manufacturing processes to optimise aerodynamic performance, reduce weight, and increase efficiency. In the last three years alone, there have been over 3.6 million patents filed and granted in the technology industry, according to GlobalData’s report on Innovation in Robotics: Autonomous VTOLs. 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.
300+ innovations will shape the technology industry
According to GlobalData’s Technology Foresights, which plots the S-curve for the technology industry using innovation intensity models built on over 2.5 million patents, there are 300+ innovation areas that will shape the future of the industry.
Within the emerging innovation stage, AI-assisted inspection, anti-collision LiDAR, and 3d object sensing are disruptive technologies that are in the early stages of application and should be tracked closely. Autonomous harvesters, cleaning robots, and line follower robots are some of the accelerating innovation areas, where adoption has been steadily increasing. Among maturing innovation areas are, welding robot and robotic vision, which are now well established in the industry.
Innovation S-curve for robotics in the technology industry
Autonomous VTOLs is a key innovation area in robotics
Autonomous VTOLs (Vertical Takeoff and Landing) refer to aircraft that are capable of taking-off and landing vertically and flying horizontally without the intervention of a pilot or any other human assistance. They have a wide range of applications including, but not limited to, search and rescue operations, surveillance, and cargo transportation.
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 170 companies, spanning technology vendors, established technology companies, and up-and-coming start-ups engaged in the development and application of autonomous VTOLs.
Key players in autonomous VTOLs – a disruptive innovation in the technology 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 autonomous VTOLs
Source: GlobalData Patent Analytics
Among the companies innovating in autonomous VTOLs, SZ DJI Technology is a leading patent filer. The company’s patents are aimed at invention describing devices and methods for controlling the positioning of a payload on an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). A carrier as described herein may provide movement of a payload relative to a central body or one or more propulsion units of the UAV. The payload may move above and below the central body or the one or more propulsion units. The carrier may comprise one or more guides, a first actuator and a second actuator.
The first actuator may permit the payload to translate with respect to the one or more guides and the second actuator may permit the payload to rotate about one or more axes of rotation with respect to the one or more guides. Therefore, the positioning of the payload may be well controlled, and movability and manoeuvrability of the payload may be increased. The other prominent patent filers in the space include Amazon.com and Walmart.
In terms of geographical reach, Tevel Aerobotics Technologies leads the pack, followed by Torquing Group and BCB International. In terms of application diversity, Cloudparc holds the top position, followed by Isolynx and Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies.
Autonomous VTOLs can help to reduce the need for ground transportation, enabling faster and more efficient delivery of goods and cargo. The use of autonomous VTOLs has the potential to revolutionise various industries and improve efficiency and safety in a variety of tasks.
To further understand how robotics is disrupting the technology industry, access GlobalData’s latest thematic research report on Robotics – Thematic Research Report.
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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.
