Autopilot System Market Size and Trends

The global autopilot system market size was valued at US$ 4.09 bn in 2023 and is expected to reach US$ 6.78 bn by 2030, grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.5% from 2023 to 2030.

By aircraft type, the commercial segment accounted for the largest share of the autopilot system market in 2022. The incorporation of autopilot systems into the commercial sector has profoundly reshaped several industries, especially in the fields of aviation and transportation. Within commercial aviation, these systems are instrumental in bolstering safety by aiding pilots during challenging weather situations and minimizing human mistakes.

Autopilot System Market Trends:

Industry consolidation through partnerships and M&A: Developing autopilot technology requires huge investments and convergence of capabilities in sensors, software, data annotation, and validation. This has led to partnerships between automakers, tech companies, chip makers, and sensor providers to combine strengths. Acquisitions of self-driving startups by corporations have also gained momentum to accelerate technology development, testing, and commercialization.
Progress in sensor technologies: Advancements in LiDAR, radar, cameras, and ultrasonics are enabling more accurate environment perception and object detection. Companies are shifting from bulky mechanical LiDARs to low-cost solid-state LiDARs. Radar and cameras with higher resolution, fps, and focal capabilities are being adopted. This is expanding the envelope of operational design domains.
Enhanced connectivity and ecosystems: The enhanced connectivity and ecosystems trend is having a significant influence on the development of the autopilot system market. As vehicles are increasingly connected to each other and to surrounding infrastructure via technologies like vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, it is opening up new possibilities for advanced driver assistance systems and autonomy. This improved connectivity allows vehicles to have a more holistic view of the driving environment beyond just the sensors on the vehicle itself. Through V2X, an autonomous vehicle can receive real-time information from other vehicles about road conditions, construction zones, accidents, or obstacles ahead to optimize route planning and driver responses accordingly. Such connectivity enhances situation awareness for autonomous driving systems and helps improve safety.
Public-private partnerships: Governments and policy makers play an important role in funding research, enabling regulatory frameworks, and supporting pilot projects to spur AV advancement. Partnerships like the U.S. DOT AV TEST initiative and DR-UP consortium in Europe are facilitating development of standards and platforms for technologies to be responsibly deployed.