Autonomous vehicles

Join IDTechEx Technology Analyst Shihao Fu on Thursday 19th February for this expert webinar where we will explore how regulatory clarity, automation, sensor integration, and evolving business models are enabling certain drone applications to scale, while others continue to face structural barriers. Choose your preferred time zone - the webinar runs three times in one day.

Drones have transitioned from experimental tools into essential infrastructure across agriculture, logistics, energy, security, and public-sector operations. According to the newly released IDTechEx report "Drones Market 2026-2036: Technologies, Markets, and Opportunities", the global drone market, including consumer, commercial, and defense platforms, is projected to grow from approximately US$69 billion in 2026 to US$147.8 billion by 2036, corresponding to a 7.9% CAGR.

The rise of the Software-Defined Vehicle (SDV) is transforming not only passenger cars but also the commercial vehicle industry, which is reshaping how trucks, vans, and specialty vehicles are designed, operated, and maintained.

IDTechEx forecasts that the global sensor market will reach $250B in annual revenue by 2036, as global mega-trends in AI, future mobility, wearables, edge computing, and automation drive renewed growth opportunities. Next generation sensor technology innovations in quantum sensors, ADAS sensors, image sensors, MEMS, photonic integrated circuits, and printed sensor markets will be key to realizing the highest growth opportunities over the next decade.

IDTechEx, along with many other industry experts, are expecting robotaxis to become a common sight in major cities over the next twenty years. The business case for robotaxis, although not without its obstacles, is compelling. However, in the meantime, there will still be billions of privately owned vehicles on the roads. This article considers the case for autonomous private vehicles and the software market: from adaptive cruise control to true autonomy, everywhere.

Robotics are becoming increasingly integrated into all main aspects of driving and the automotive sector as a whole. This article covers some of the main uses for robotics in vehicle operation and manufacturing processes, including radar for safety, and humanoid robots for assembly.

IDTechEx's Sensors report provides extensive analysis of the global sensor market, including 58 company profiles and insights collected from over 20 related sensor reports. Summarizing IDTechEx's extensive sensors report portfolio, this research contains over 35 sensor technology SWOT analyses, 24 technology readiness level roadmaps, material requirements and supplier information across future mobility, IoT, wearables, biomedical, edge computing, environmental sensing and more.

Transmission losses become increasingly significant as communication systems move toward higher frequencies, making low-loss materials essential to preserve signal strength and integrity. These materials are critical for technologies such as 5G mmWave and future 6G telecommunications which is expected to see deployment around 2030, as well as for automotive radar systems for advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). Similarly, data center infrastructure is shifting toward ultra-high data rates exceeding 200Gbps amplifying the need for materials that can perform reliably and maintain signal integrity under such demanding conditions.

Across the global autonomous vehicle landscape, commercial trucks are emerging as one of the first segments to reach true-scale deployment. in China, the pace of adoption has accelerated dramatically: trucks equipped with assisted driving systems now collectively log over one million kilometers every day. To gain deeper insights into this rapid transformation, Shihao Fu, an analyst specializing in autonomous driving at IDTechEx, recently visited Inceptio Technology, a leading Chinese autonomous trucking company.