ADAS-related Patent Applications Increase by 20% Annually
The number of patent applications related to advanced driver assistance system (ADAS), a core technology for autonomous vehicles, is increasing fast.
As some automakers such as Hyundai Motor, Mercedes-Benz, and Honda are promoting the commercialization of Level 3 autonomous vehicles capable of conditional autonomous driving, competition is heating up in the development of ADAS technology that supports drivers according to driving conditions.
The Korean Intellectual Property Office said on June 12 that ADAS-related patents filed in Korea, the United States, Japan, China, and Europe increased by about 20 percent annually from 2,000 in 2013 to 6,000 in 2019.
ADAS technology automatically notifies drivers of dangerous situations by recognizing driving conditions through detection devices such as cameras, radars, and light detection and ranging (LIDAR) devices and automates some driving functions such as speed control.
Automakers have been commercially introducing adaptive cruise control (ACC) that automatically adjusts a car’s distance from other vehicles, the Smart Parking Assist System (SPAS) that enables car to park themselves on their own, and the Lane Departure Warning (LDW) System that notifies drivers when their vehicles are out of driving lanes.
By country, China accounted for the largest number of applications with 30.7, followed by the United States (27.6 percent), Japan (20.8 percent), Korea (10.6 percent), and Europe (10.3 percent). By nationalities of applicants, Japan (38.4 percent) claimed first place, followed by China (16.5 percent), Europe (15.9 percent), Korea (14.9 percent) and the United States (11.8 percent).
The top 10 automakers with multiple applications were Toyota (4,732 applications), Hyundai Motor (3,618), Honda (2,479), Nissan (2,025), Bosch (1,670), and Denso (1,454). While the majority of applications were made by Korean and Japanese automakers, auto parts makers such as Bosch, Denso, Mando, and Hitachi made such applications one after another. In the case of Korean companies, applications from electronic companies such as LG and Samsung have been on the uptick in addition to automobile companies. Applications from small and medium-sized enterprises such as StradVision and Thinkware have been on a steady rise.
Based on U.S. registered patents, the United States was evaluated to outrun other countries in fully autonomous vehicle technology in terms of patent competitiveness. Japan is zooming in on preoccupying the autonomous driving market by improving convenience and safety. As for Korea, it has a relatively low technology impact index, so more research and investment are needed to improve Korea’s technology.