Autonomous Navigation System Market Size, Share & COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Platform (Airborne, Land, Marine, Space, and Weapons), By System (Sensing System, Navigation System, Processing System, and Software System), By Application (Commercial, Military, and Government), and Regional Forecast, 2023-2030

The global autonomous navigation system market size was valued at USD 2.88 billion in 2022 and is projected to grow from USD 3.17 billion in 2023 to USD 7.24 billion by 2030, exhibiting a CAGR of 12.5% over the forecast period.

An autonomous navigation system is used to convert manned vehicles into unmanned vehicles and has the capability to plan, navigate, and execute the path without human intervention. This system uses a combination of sensors, algorithms, and computer vision to create a map of its environment and determine its own location without GPS.

Autonomous Navigation System (ANS) is used in various applications, including self-driving cars, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), and robots used in manufacturing, logistics, and other industries. The key components of ANS typically include sensors such as cameras, LIDAR, radar and GPS, and software algorithms for processing sensor data. Advanced machine learning techniques such as deep neural networks are also used to improve the performance of these systems over time.

Additionally, the systems exhibit various advantages such as increased safety as they eliminate the risk of human error, which can lead to accidents. Other advantages include improved efficiency as the system can operate without breaks, improved accuracy, and enhanced flexibility. Moreover, the increasing use of AI is expected to propel the growth of the global ANS market size during the forecast period.

COVID-19 Impact

COVID-19 Had a Positive Impact on the Market Owing to Demand for Enhanced Safety and Reduced Human Contact

The COVID-19 pandemic had a positive impact on the Unmanned Navigation System market. With more number of people staying at home, the demand for autonomous delivery systems, such as drones and self-driving vehicles has increased. Additionally, various implementations have been proposed for the use of robots in healthcare and other fields to address these challenges. For example, the use of robots helped to reduce the patient's contact with the provider, reducing the need for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and the provision of services at maximum capacity during emergencies. In April 2020, Fortis hospital in India introduced “Mita” robot for the screening of COVID-19 patients. Such initiatives are being adopted to screen all visitors, including doctors, nurses, medical staff, and non-medical staff entering Bannerghatta Road Hospital.

Another such example is in March 2020, there was use of robots for automated transport of medicines in a hospital in Guangzhou (China) during the COVID-19 outbreak. The hospital created a smart field with 14 robots performing a variety of patient care tasks, including cleaning, disinfecting, administering medications, and taking temperatures. Owing to such factors, there has been a positive impact of COVID-19 on ANS.

LATEST TRENDS

Rising Use of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning to Propel Industry Growth

Major players in the market are focused on increasing the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and to adopt 5G connectivity to increase their market share.  Machine learning and artificial intelligence techniques such as deep learning and reinforcement learning are being used to improve the performance of ANS. In February 2023, Scientific Systems Company, Inc. (SSCI), an artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML) engineering company, has partnered with the MIT Sea Grant to use the Navy's Unmanned Maritime Autonomous Architecture (UMAA) to develop unmanned surface vehicles (USV) using AI. The joint SSCI/MIT companies integrated computer vision, waypoint navigation, obstacle avoidance, vehicle control, and mission management into a fully integrated and arranged autonomous stack.

Additionally, the rollout of 5G networks is expected to enable faster and more reliable communication between autonomous systems and their control systems. This can enable real-time data transfer, which can improve the responsiveness and efficiency of the system. In February 2021, Verizon entered a definitive agreement to acquire in cubed IT developer of a software platform that provides autonomous navigation tools for managing and optimizing mixed fleets of robots in industrial environments. By integrating its autonomous software with Verizon's 5G platform, the company has strengthened its ability to enable robotic automation at scale. This will open new opportunities for corporate customers to better and effectively monitor and optimize their business processes.

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DRIVING FACTORS

Rising Investments by Governments in Autonomous Navigation Systems to Propel Market Growth

The regulatory bodies and governments are focused in increasing the use of autonomous systems for various industries such as automobile, robotics, military, and others. Additionally, the governments of various economies are promoting the development and testing of ANS by investing and opening facilities to promote the testings. In July 2022, India inaugurated its first autonomous navigation facility “TiHAN” by the Union Minister of State for Science & Technology at the IIT Hyderabad campus. This facility was developed by the funding of USD 15.8 million by the Union Ministry of Science & Technology.

Furthermore, in the fiscal year of 2022, the Japanese government funded USD 930.5 million boosting the “new robot strategy” in Japan aiming to make the country the world’s advanced robot innovation hub. Such initiatives and support by the government are expected to propel the autonomous navigation system market growth during the forecast period.

Emergence of Improved Surveillance System Owing to Security Concerns to Catalyze the Global Market Growth

The progress and arrival of wireless communication, artificial intelligence, and robotics have resulted in security and monitoring solutions, advancing into a new age of self-governing security robots. For numerous security specialists, their principal responsibilities involve observation and inspection. Moreover, in recent times, owing to concerns of border security, many companies are focusing in developing autonomous surveillance systems for improved efficiency and accuracy.

In December 2022, Kodiak Robotics, a self-driving truck technology firm, secured a USD 9.9 million deal from the U.S. Department of Defense to support the military in automating forthcoming land-based automobiles for executing perilous operations such as surveillance and reconnaissance. Additionally, in December 2022, L3Harris Technologies secured a deal valued at a maximum of USD 886 million to provide assistance for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities to the U.S. Army, Department of Defense, and intelligence community. Owing to such developments, the global autonomous navigation market is anticipated to boost during the forecast period.

RESTRAINING FACTORS

Cybersecurity & Data Privacy Issues to Hinder Market Growth

There are various challenges in the adoption of ANS for various applications around different sectors such as commercial, military, government, and others, which is affecting the demand for autonomous navigation system. The system collects a significant amount of data, including location data, sensor data, and video footage. There are concerns about how this data is stored, used, and shared and what kind of privacy safety are implemented.

Furthermore, cybersecurity is a major concern for implementation of ANS and various regulatory laws are implemented by different economies to ensure zero cyberattacks. For example, the European Union implemented the general data protection regulation (GDPR) to impose strict requirements for data privacy and security. The national highway traffic safety administration’s (NHTSA) guidelines for autonomous cars in the U.S. including recommendations for cybersecurity and data privacy promotes an improved approach in reducing cyberattacks on self-driving vehicles.

SEGMENTATION

By Platform Analysis 

Airborne Segment to Record Substantial Market Growth Owing to the Increased Applications in UAVs

By platform, the market is segmented into airborne, land, marine, space, and weapons. Airborne segment is the dominating and the fastest-growing segment during the forecast period. Autonomous navigation systems can optimize flight paths and reduce fuel consumption, resulting in cost savings for airlines and other operators. Furthermore, these systems can also improve the accuracy and reliability of flight planning and scheduling. Increased applications of ANS in UAVs also catalyze the growth of the airborne segment.

The marine segment is the second largest dominating segment in the market. The dominance in marine is owing to several factors such as improved precision, which is useful in applications such as dredging, surveying, and offshore operations. Such systems are also efficient in operating in challenging environments such as heavy weather, restricted waters, and others. Moreover, in July 2022, the Korean Register (KR) entered an MOU with KLCSM and Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) to research and endorse the use of self-navigation systems for medium to large vessels. This partnership will expedite the implementation and global competitiveness of local autonomous marine equipment and technology, creating a fully independent ship-based operating system.

In space, autonomous systems are used in space explorations and are increasingly adopted due to growing number of space missions.  The system help the spacecraft to adjust their trajectories based on current conditions and help the spacecraft to take autonomous decisions. The systems also help in conducting experiments and observations such as mapping planetary surfaces, measuring compositions, and detecting celestial objects.

By System Analysis

Navigation System Segment to Dominate the Market Owing to Increased Need for Improved Accuracy in Various Environment Conditions

On the basis of system, the market is segmented into sensing system, navigation system, processing system, and software system. Navigation system segment dominates the market in the base year and is expected to be the fastest growing segment in the forecast period due to the increasing demand for improved navigation and positioning used in autonomous vehicles and robots.

Sensing system segment is predicted to witness significant growth during the forecast period. Sensing system comprises of various components such as cameras, LIDAR, radar, ultrasonic sensors, IMUs, processing units, and others. The sensing systems can be used in combination to provide complete picture of the environment and enable any vehicle or device to navigate safely and effectively.

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By Application Analysis 

Military Segment to Dominate the Market Owing to Increased Need for Improved Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) Operations

The market by application is segmented into military, commercial, and government.  The military segment is anticipated to dominate the market during the year 2022 and the segment is projected to be the fastest growing segment during the forecast period. The autonomous navigation systems provides increased situational awareness for military personnel, allowing making better-informed decisions in real-time.

The government segment is predicted to witness significant growth during the forecast period. Government are using ANS for a variety of applications including transportation, public safety and infrastructure management. For instance, the ANS for public safety can be used with drones equipped with cameras and sensors, which can monitor various environments for law enforcements and border patrolling.

REGIONAL INSIGHTS

In terms of geography, the market is divided into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the rest of the world.

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The market in Europe holds the largest market share in the base year. This regional growth is due to a combination of factors such as the rising demand for automated transport, strong research and development capabilities, increase in funding, and others. In March 2022, the EU agency for space programme (EUSPA) and the European investment bank (EIB) published the “GNSS  investment report”, wherein both the parties will invest USD 45.6 billion in the next 10 years for increase in autonomous navigation capabilities.

North America held second largest part in the autonomous navigation system market share in 2022. The market in North America was valued at USD 0.85 Billion in 2022. The North America autonomous navigation market growth is attributed to various factors such as increase in technological advancements, consumer preference, and government initiatives. The technological advancement have made the creation of sophisticated ANS for wide range of environmental conditions. In addition, the U.S. department of transportation has established guidelines for the development and testing of autonomous vehicles. Such factors add to the increase in market share during the forecast period.

Asia Pacific is the fastest-growing region during the forecast period. The growth in the region is owing to the region’s growing technology sector. Many countries such as China, Japan, and South Korea are leading technological economies investing in ANS. In September 2021, Alibaba heads a USD 300 million investment in DeepRoute.ai, a self-driving start-up based in China. Additionally, in October 2021, the production of satellites for the development of a high-accuracy navigation system was initiated by Zhejiang Geely Holding Group. The aim is to establish a low earth orbit satellite network that will transmit accurate location data to autonomous vehicles. Geely intends to implement this network to facilitate the navigation of self-driving cars. Owing to such developments, the market in the Asia Pacific is projected to grow during the forecast period.

The rest of the world is anticipated to witness moderate growth in the market during the forecast period. The growth in the Middle East & Africa is owing to the increasing investments in the ANS. In November 2022, Fugro and AD Ports Group established a collaborative partnership by signing an agreement that outlines their joint objectives to leverage remote and autonomous technologies in the area. The agreement was executed during the ADIPEC 2022 Exhibition held in Abu Dhabi.

KEY INDUSTRY PLAYERS

Leading Players’ Focus on Emerging Technological Advancements and Increased R&D

The global unmanned navigation system market is relatively consolidated with key players, such as Safran, ABB, L3Harris Technologies Inc., Mopg Inc., Northrop Grumman Corporation, and others. Major players focus on technological advancements, product innovations, expansions into emerging markets, and mergers & acquisitions to increase their market share and sustain the market competition. Overall, there is a significant investment in research and development for ANS for military, commercial applications, and unmanned ground vehicles (UGV) driven by various factors including improved situational awareness, mission effectiveness, and others.  

LIST OF KEY COMPANIES PROFILED:

• Safran (France)


• ABB (Switzerland)


• L3Harris Technologies Inc. (U.S.)


• Moog Inc. (U.S.)


• Northrop Grumman Corporation (U.S.)


• Elbit Systems Ltd (Israel)


• BAE systems Plc. (U.S.)


• Lockheed Martin Corporation (U.S.)


• General Dynamics Corporation (U.S.)


• Raytheon Technologies Corporation (U.S.)

KEY INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS:

• January 2023 – Gausium, a top organization specializing in self-sufficient cleaning and maintenance robots, unveiled its products at the prestigious CES 2023 event held in Las Vegas. At the exhibit, Gausium showcased a variety of robot models and unveiled its proprietary self-governing navigation software called "GMind X" for the first time.


• February 2023 – Telespazio UK is thrilled to declare that it has secured a USD 0.6 million deal from ESA, also known as the European Space Agency. Within the framework of ESA's Navigation Innovation and Support Programme (NavISP), Telespazio UK clinched the agreement to create GNSS Receiver Vector Tracking Loops for Autonomous Vehicles (VTL4AV).


• March 2023 – Avikus and Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, a subsidiary of Hyundai, entered a contract to carry out an experiment on fuel efficiency by implementing self-governing navigation systems. The venture incorporates five firms, namely POS SM, Pan Ocean, Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, Korean Register of Shipping, and Avikus.


• March 2021 – The U.S. Air Force has granted a fresh deal to Northrop Grumman for their RQ-4 observation unmanned aircraft. The contract, given by the U.S. Air Force Installation Contracting Center, has a worth of over USD 75.5 million.


• October 2021 – BlueBotics SA, a pioneer in self-directed movement, has entered into a sole partnership with Dürr Systems AG, a prominent name in vehicle production automation and digitalization, to develop automated guided vehicles (AGVs) that are expected to significantly enhance the efficiency, safety, and adaptability of paint shops. The two companies are confident that this innovation will bring about a revolution in the industry.

REPORT COVERAGE

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The market report provides a detailed market analysis. It comprises all major aspects, such as R&D capabilities, supply chain management, competitive landscape, and optimization of the manufacturing capabilities and operating services. Moreover, the market report offers insights into the market trends analysis, and autonomous navigation market size, and primarily highlights key industry developments. In addition to the above-mentioned factors, it mainly focuses on several factors that have contributed to the global market growth over recent years.

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