Research Articles

According to the new IDTechEx report "Humanoid Robots 2026-2036: Technologies, Markets and Opportunities", the humanoid robot industry is entering an early commercialization phase, with adoption expected to scale first in industrial environments before expanding into broader commercial and consumer markets.

Celebrating Chinese New Year 2026: IDTechEx Highlights Rising UK Engagement with Chinese Automakers and Asia-Pacific Industry Collaboration

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.

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.

The concept of the Software-Defined Vehicle (SDV) has rapidly emerged as a transformative trend reshaping the automotive industry. Yet, despite widespread use of the term, there remains significant confusion around its core meaning, structural elements, and real-world driving forces.

The automotive industry is undergoing a foundational shift toward Software-Defined Vehicles (SDVs), where vehicle functionality, user experience, and monetization opportunities are governed increasingly by software rather than hardware. This evolution, captured comprehensively in the latest IDTechEx report, "Software-Defined Vehicles, Connected Cars, and AI in Cars 2026-2036: Markets, Trends, and Forecasts", highlights how central compute and zonal platforms will redefine automotive competition, generating an estimated US$755 billion in hardware revenue by 2029.

China's L2+ ADAS market is accelerating, led by cost-effective full-stack solutions and domestic innovation. IDTechEx projects the market to reach US$20 billion by the 2040's as local players outpace global rivals.

This article takes a look at the role of radar in the future of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving, including market segmentation, regulatory catalysts, and regional contrasts.

The global passenger car market is witnessing a pivotal shift in advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), with Level 2+ (L2+) technologies rapidly outpacing Level 3 (L3) deployments. IDTechEx forecasts significant growth, with L2+/L3 revenues in Europe projected to exceed US$4 billion by 2042.

Newly established radar startups worldwide have raised nearly US$1.2 billion over the past 12 years; approximately US$980 million of which is predominantly directed toward the automotive sector. Through more than 40 funding rounds, these companies have driven the implementation and advancement of radar technologies in key areas such as autonomous driving and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS).

The global commercialization of autonomous trucks in 2024 is being shaped significantly by regional regulations and government policies. To enable the growth of autonomous trucking, the U.S., Europe and China have adopted different approaches, primarily influenced by their respective regulatory environments, infrastructure development, and governmental support.

The commercialization progress of autonomous buses and roboshuttles has been slow, falling short of industry expectations. IDTechEx predicts that over the next decade, autonomous buses and roboshuttles will need to demonstrate their commercial viability to continue attracting investment and garner government backing for market development and policy endorsement.

The autonomous truck industry is experiencing a significant revival, with vehicle delivery numbers continuously breaking records. Companies across Asia, Europe, and the United States are eagerly advancing into the commercialization testing phase. Autonomous trucks are addressing critical real-world issues by reducing transportation costs and optimizing Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) through meticulous, practical calculations.

Autonomous buses represent one of the most challenging platforms in the autonomous driving industry. In recent years, commercial interest has shifted towards roboshuttles and robotaxis, partly due to the complex operational design domains (ODD) of autonomous buses.

Roboshuttles are small, fully electric, and operate at Level 4 autonomy, making them an ideal last-mile solution. They were once highly anticipated in the autonomous driving industry as a promising mobility solution, and at one point, over 25 companies were competing in this space. However, IDTechEx has observed a yearly decline in the number of active companies from 2020 to 2024, and the industry has not advanced to the large-scale commercial testing phases as hoped.

By 2044, it is expected that the global trucking fleet will be supported by an additional half a million L4 autonomous drivers, while the remaining drivers will either act as supervisors or work in less developed regions. The autonomous truck industry is projected to have an annual growth rate of 25.6% over the next 20 years.