Printed & flexible sensors explored.

Sensors act as a middle ground between the physical and digital. They measure all sorts of variables from touch, temperature, and heart rate across many different sectors, which IDTechEx’s report “Printed and Flexible Sensors 2024-2034: Technologies, Players, Markets” explores in detail. As technology continues to become streamlined and autonomous, there is a great demand for multi-functionality and seamlessness, meaning a high demand for sensors that can be printed and applied to flexible surfaces. This report explores the main sectors where this technology is in most demand.

Industrial.
Image sensors that can flexibly conform to surfaces can be used for weld inspections for oil pipelines and submersibles to minimize hazards and increase efficiency. Routine testing of pipes to ensure proper function is something that is not easily carried out, and currently, fixed-size image sensors are moved around the joint to image it in 3D. With printed flexible sensors, the entire joint can be imaged conformally without the need to move them around and can cover large areas while producing high-resolution images. Ths report explores this further.

Automotive safety.
Battery health monitoring in electric vehicles using multi-functional hybrid sensors is an emerging role for printed and flexible sensors. Temperature and pressure sensors can be integrated together with minimal interference to prevent overheating or battery failure, helping contribute greatly to the vehicle's safety.

Electric vehicle batteries are being developed to have greater energy density and go longer between charges, requiring advanced monitoring as a result. Printed and flexible sensors work by converting physical measurements into electrical signals, meaning they respond to any swelling or rise in temperature into an alert within the car, helping solve any issues fast. As vehicles are moving towards autonomy and becoming electric, it makes sense to incorporate this seamless integration of sensors.

Seat occupancy detection in vehicles uses piezoresistive sensors, which detect force as pressure is applied. These sensors allow cars to keep passengers safe by reminding them to wear seatbelts. IDTechEx states that force sensors are the largest printed sensor market and are likely to remain so. For more information, see the IDTechEx report, “Electric Vehicles: Land, Sea, and Air 2024-2044”.

Dashboard sensors.
Greater touch-sensitive inputs using capacitive or force sensors is a future possibility for the automotive sector, as printed sensors can be integrated conformably into curved surfaces of vehicles such as the dashboard or car door. Printed touch sensors enable user interface across large areas for infotainment and control systems in the vehicle, such as opening windows or changing songs. The possibility of these sensors being transparent would allow for cooperative integration and a seamless aesthetic, and they can even be printed onto glass. Innovations in flexible, non-printed capacitive touch sensing technology do pose a threat to this application, but printed sensors remain the most compelling solution for large-area use cases.

Consumer electronics.
IDTechEx predicts that fingerprint authentication will maintain its prominence as an addressable application for the printed flexible sensor market. With touchscreens expanding to the very edges of the device, there is a growing demand for fingerprint security solutions that provide biometric authentication across the entire display. Printed sensors can be used in smartphones and tablets, where photodetectors embedded within the display panel enable passive biometric authentication during operation.

Gaming controllers and inputs could be revolutionized with printed flexible 3D force sensors. Where multiple keys or buttons have always been used for various functions, pressure measurement can offer an additional dimension of user experience and interaction. More functionalities can be added to a lower number of controls, using pressure to activate additional functions over a smaller area. Laptops could also benefit from this added functionality, integrating pressure sensitivity within keyboards and trackpads, meaning more value for customers and enhancing user experience.

Dr Jack Howley, Technology Analyst at IDTechEx and author of the “Printed and Flexible Sensors 2024-2034: Technologies, Players, Markets” report, states that “changes in perspectives within the industry are causing technology providers to question how printed and flexible sensors can truly add value. Although they are fantastic for uses in the automotive sector, it could be beneficial to assess where printed sensors could fill gaps in various sectors, rather than assuming there will always be a demand for them, to secure the industry's future. The market stands at almost half a billion dollars, and IDTechEx predicts it could reach just shy of US$1 billion in ten years’ time, so despite it not being a large market, there is room for innovation and growth”.

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Carbon Dioxide derived concrete - an answer>

CO₂-Derived Concrete Can Build a Net-Negative Future writes Eve Pope, Technology Analyst at IDTechEx.

In a world with a growing population and a rapidly expanding construction sector to match, how do we prevent building homes from damaging our climate? Concrete is the second most consumed material on Earth, but its key ingredient, cement, is responsible for 7% of global anthropogenic CO₂ emissions. The answer could come from thin air - CO₂-derived building materials.

The new IDTechEx report "Carbon Dioxide Utilization 2024-2044: Technologies, Market Forecasts, and Players" explores many ways to valorize captured carbon dioxide to create useful products. Among these, CO₂-derived building materials showed particular promise due to performance improvements and cost-competitiveness, as well as sustainability benefits. IDTechEx forecasts over 170 million tonnes of captured CO₂ will be utilized in building materials by 2044.

Carbon dioxide can be utilized in concrete production in three different ways: injection of CO₂ during curing of precast concrete, injection of CO₂ during mixing of ready-mixed concrete, and formation of carbonate aggregates/additives.

Stages of concrete production with utilization (CO2U) and carbon capture (CC) opportunities labeled

Unlike some other carbon dioxide utilization pathways, such as the conversion to e-fuels, which requires large amounts of energy and green hydrogen (often prohibitively expensive), the basic mineralization chemistry underpinning the uptake of CO₂ during concrete manufacturing is thermodynamically favored and less energy-intensive because stable metal carbonates are formed. These carbonates represent effectively permanent sequestration of CO₂, so CO₂-derived building materials double up as simultaneous carbon dioxide utilization and carbon dioxide storage. The process is compatible with many different sources of CO₂.

Valorizing waste.

In addition to waste CO₂, solid waste streams can also be repurposed into new concrete using CO₂ mineralization chemistry to form carbonates. For example, CO₂-derived concrete players include Swiss company neustark, who uses the reaction of CO₂ with demolished concrete to store carbon dioxide and produce concrete aggregate. Another aggregate producer, O.C.O Technology, instead uses CO₂ and waste materials from industrial thermal processes. Meanwhile, building materials giant Heidelberg Materials has ongoing R&D into recycling concrete using CO₂ to form a cement substitute. Steel slag is being explored by companies including Carbonaide and CarbiCrete as a cement replacement during CO₂-aided curing. Additional revenue can be generated through waste disposal fees, with some CO₂-derived concrete players reporting to having already achieved price parity with incumbents.

Accelerating adoption.

Concrete production is typically low-margin, and willingness to pay a green premium is low. Therefore, widespread deployment of CO₂-derived concrete will rely on CO₂ utilization technology players, creating easy-to-adopt solutions that are minimally disruptive to existing manufacturing processes. In CO₂-aided curing, some players have targeted retrofittable curing chambers. Elsewhere, plug-and-play and mobile unit solutions are also being commercialized.

2023 saw the release of several ASTM standards around CO₂-aided curing, improving confidence in the safety and quality of CO₂-derived precast concrete. While many CO₂-derived building materials have yet to achieve price parity with conventional concrete, some customers are willing to pay a premium due to enhanced performance (such as higher strength and improved aesthetics).

Going beyond net-zero.

The direct uptake of CO₂ into concrete can be a net-zero process if the carbon dioxide is sourced from a fossil point source (such as a coal power station) or a net-negative process if biogenic or direct air-captured CO₂ is used. In 2023, a collaboration between direct air capture (DAC) company Heirloom and CO₂-derived concrete player CarbonCure stored CO₂ captured from the ambient air into concrete for the first time.

But is CO₂-derived concrete still net-negative when considering the CO₂ released during cement production? The formation of metal carbonates during CO₂ mineralization can increase concrete strength and reduce the amount of cement needed. Alternatively, some carbonate additives can act as supplementary cementitious materials and replace cement. Therefore, according to IDTechEx?s analysis of players, several can produce carbon-negative concrete products. The permanent storage of CO₂ into concrete enables players to sell high-value carbon dioxide removal credits on the voluntary carbon market.

Carbon footprint data from 12 CO2-derived concrete players.

The way forward.

Although the production of CO₂-derived concrete is more expensive than conventional concrete, revenue can be generated through waste disposal fees and carbon credit sales, with some players already reporting to achieve price parity. In the future, stronger regulatory support (for example, increased carbon pricing) will accelerate uptake further, with IDTechEx forecasting over 170 million tonnes of captured CO₂ will be utilized in building materials by 2044. With carbon capture solutions for cement kilns continuing to develop, CO₂ could be sourced from cement production, creating a circular solution.

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For more information on IDTechEx's CCUS (carbon capture, utilization, and storage) market research portfolio, please refer to the IDTechEx "Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) Markets 2023-2043" and "Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) Markets 2023-2040: Technologies, Players, and Forecasts" reports.

• See also Concrete carbon solution.(19/2/2024) 

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Emerging Image Sensor Technologies 2024-2034.

Dr Miguel El Guendy, Technology Analyst at IDTechEx, discusses technological innovations in next-generation image sensors.

The new IDTechEx report, "Emerging Image Sensor Technologies 2024-2034: Applications and Markets", explores a diverse range of image sensing technologies capable of resolutions and wavelength detection far beyond what is currently attainable. IDTechEx expects that the growing importance of autonomous technologies will lead the emerging image sensor market to over US$739 million (€693m) by 2034.

Emerging image sensor technologies covered in IDTechEx's "Emerging Image Sensor Technologies 2024-2034: Applications and Markets”.

There are several unique selling points to adopting these types of image sensors, one of which is the broadening of the spectral coverage over the commonly used CMOS RGB sensors.

CMOS detectors are highly effective and reliable for visible light image capture and are widely used in robotics, industrial inspections, and consumer electronics applications. Their cost-effectiveness and ease of implementation into a variety of applications ensure successful adoption in the market. Nevertheless, with a growing need to visualize a wider range of frequencies in the electromagnetic spectrum comes a new market opportunity with immense potential.

One of the areas of interest is capturing images in the short-wave infrared (SWIR) region (1000-2000nm). The autonomous vehicle industry, for instance, is particularly invested in technologies operating in this region, as visible light image capture is less effective in foggy/misty/dusty/dark conditions. Similarly, industrial inspections could benefit from SWIR imaging as this region has different absorption ratios that can help distinguish materials that look the same in the visible spectrum.

The main challenge, however, is lowering the costs associated with the existing technologies in this space. The dominant technology in this sector is based on indium gallium arsenide (InGaAs), and while these devices perform well and have high sensitivity in these frequency ranges, they are also costly, with average pricing approximating US$20,000 (€18.8k). As a result, they are used on very specialized applications and remain inaccessible for autonomous driving and consumer electronics, for instance.

Dr Miguel El Guendy - IDTEx

The potential demand for more affordable SWIR image sensors has triggered the emergence of novel technologies that are determined to fill this customer need. These include hybrid image sensors, where organic semiconductors or quantum dots are placed above a CMOS readout integrated circuit (ROIC), and extended silicon, where the physical properties of silicon are altered, enabling its absorption range beyond its bandgap capabilities. Despite promises of performance enhancement, these technologies require further maturity to compete with InGaAs.

Nevertheless, there is more innovation happening in the image-sensing space. Companies are not solely looking at expanding the spectral range; there is also ongoing work in imaging over a larger area whilst increasing temporal resolution and dynamic range. An example of this is event-based vision, where each pixel in the sensor detects changes in intensity and sets a timestamp reporting this change. Rather than using a frame-based approach that would require extensive computational processing, this method increases the temporal resolution for a fraction of the computation.

The growth of the Internet of Things (IoT) and smart consumer electronics is driving another phenomenon in the image sensor sector, which is the miniaturization of these sensors to conform within the smallest form factor devices. Miniaturized spectrometers, for instance, target these applications and aim to deliver sufficiently small and low-cost solutions to the market.

There is one main trend that remains consistent irrespective of the frequency sensitivity ranges, and this is cost. While CMOS sensors are already relatively mature and affordable, there is ample opportunity to deliver similar products for other frequencies in the electromagnetic spectrum. The challenge consists in lowering the cost of manufacturing and the form factor whilst replicating or even surpassing the performance of CMOS in the visible light region for other frequency ranges in the electromagnetic spectrum. IoT devices are getting increasingly smaller, and thus, sensors fitted into these devices should conform to their shape and draw minimal power, which is also an added difficulty, considering many high-resolution image sensors have high computational requirements associated with them.

The world of image sensors has enormous potential and could impact multiple industries, from autonomous vehicles to industrial inspections and agriculture. The fulfillment of its potential is dependent, however, on its cost and performance, and while there are currently many technological players in the running for dominance in the sector, the technology that delivers on these points most suitably will earn a significant share of this large market, that in the future will supply to autonomous vehicle manufacturers and IoT providers in the consumer electronics space.

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Emerging sensor types for embedded vision.

by Dr Matthew Dyson, Principal Technology Analyst at IDTechEx.

Anyone who has used a ‘smart lens’ app on their smartphone is familiar with machine vision. Rather than simply reproducing and storing a picture for later viewing, machine vision applies an image processing algorithm to obtain additional insight, such as locating edges or object identification. While few would regard a ‘smart lens’ app as essential, machine vision is a critical component of many industrial processes, such as material sorting and quality control. It is also crucial for ADAS (advanced driver assistance systems) and, ultimately, autonomous vehicles.

Embedded vision brings these computational capabilities to the ‘edge’. Rather than images being sent from a sensor to a central processor, initial analysis is performed adjacent to the sensor on a dedicated, often application-specific, processor. This greatly reduces data transmission requirements since rather than sending all the acquired information (i.e., each pixel’s intensity over time), only the conclusions (e.g., object locations) are transmitted. The combination of reduced data transmission and application-specific processing also reduces latency, enabling quicker system responses.

	Comparing embedded and machine vision. Source: IDTechEx

	Minimizing Size, Weight, and Power (SWAP) While in many image sensing applications maximizing performance metrics such as resolution and dynamic range is the priority, sensors for embedded vision are typically designed with other priorities in mind. Collected data needs to be good enough to meet the requirements of the image processing algorithm, but since the picture will not be seen, then maximizing image quality is somewhat redundant. Instead, the aim is to make the system as light and compact as possible while minimizing power requirements. This SWAP reduction enables more sensors to be deployed in devices with size and weight constraints, such as drones, while also reducing associated costs. As such, small image sensors are typically deployed, often those originally developed for smartphones. Over time, expect to see greater integration, such as stacking the sensing and processing functionalities.   Miniaturized Spectral Sensing Embedded vision isn’t restricted to conventional image sensors that detect RGB pixels in the visible range. Monochromatic sensing will likely suffice for simpler algorithms, such as edge detection for object location, reducing sensor cost. Alternatively, using more sophisticated sensors with additional capabilities arguably supports the essence of embedded vision by minimizing subsequent processing requirements. Adding spectral resolution to image sensors can expedite subsequent processing for applications such as material identification, since the additional spectral dimension generally means a smaller training data set is required. However, meeting the SWAP requirements of most embedded vision systems is challenging for many spectral sensors due to their bulky architectures housing diffractive optics. Emerging approaches aiming to resolve this challenge include MEMS (micro electromechanical systems) spectrometers, increasing optical path length using photonic chips, and adding multiple narrow bandwidth spectral filters to image sensors using conventional semiconductor manufacturing techniques. Event-Based Vision Another sensing approach that aims to minimize subsequent processing requirements is event-based vision. Rather than acquiring images at a constant frame rate, with event-based vision, each pixel reports timestamps that correspond to intensity changes. As such, these sensors combine greater temporal resolution of rapidly changing regions with far less data from static background regions, thus reducing data transfer and subsequent processing requirements. Furthermore, because each pixel acts independently, the dynamic range is increased. Crucially, this alternative acquisition approach is occurring within the sensing chip, not with post-processing algorithms, enabling an associated embedded vision system to be simpler since it has less data to handle. Further Insights The adoption of embedded vision systems will continue to grow as more devices gain autonomous capabilities, with robotics, industrial vision, and vehicles as the dominant markets. This represents an opportunity not just for compact image sensors, optics, and processing ICs, but also for emerging sensor types such as spectral imaging and event-based vision that can reduce processing requirements and thus support embedded vision’s value proposition of reducing size, weight, power, and latency. IDTechEx’s report “Emerging Image Sensor Technologies 2023-2033: Applications and Markets” explores a diverse range of image sensing technologies capable of resolutions and wavelength detection far beyond what is currently attainable. This includes the spectral and event-based sensing outlined here, but also InGaAs alternatives for short-wave infrared (SWIR) imaging, thin film photodetectors, perovskite photodetectors, wavefront imaging, and more. Many of these emerging technologies are expected to gain traction across sectors, including robotics, industrial imaging, healthcare, biometrics, autonomous driving, agriculture, chemical sensing, and food inspection. @IDTechEx #PAuto

Major application areas driving the solid oxide fuel cell market.

by Dr Conor O’Brien, Technology Analyst at IDTechEx

The desire for zero-emission power generation has seen solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) touted as a possible solution. SOFC’s capability to run on hydrogen and at a higher efficiency than alternative fuel cells when providing combined heat and power (CHP) is an enticing prospect, while fuel flexibility allows for a transition from hydrocarbons towards zero emission power generation as part of the hydrogen economy. The real question, though, is that with many opportunities for stationary power sources, which applications are key to the success of the solid oxide fuel cell industry?

The new IDTechEx report, "Solid Oxide Fuel Cells 2023-2033: Technology, Applications and Market Forecasts", provides a comprehensive overview of the solid oxide fuel cell market, including an assessment of the key technology trends, major players and also includes granular 10-year market forecasts for solid oxide fuel cell demand (MW) and market value (US$), segmented by application areas. IDTechEx projects the market value to reach US$6.8 billion (€6.34b) by 2033.

Due to high operating temperatures, ramp up/down times can be long for solid oxide fuel cells, while the associated large change in temperature can lead to degradation of ceramic components, specifically is there is a mismatch of thermal expansion coefficient between neighbouring components. As such, SOFCs are best suited to applications where continuous power output is required, and utility-scale power generation is one such market sector. Use of the generated thermal energy to provide heat and hot water to nearby facilities adds to the appeal of the overall system. The IDTechEx report details OEMs providing SOFC systems for zero emission utility scale power generation, partnerships that have been established with utility providers and key examples of case studies.

Similar to power generation for utility companies, SOFCs are well suited for utilization in commercial and industrial (C&I) applications where continuous operation is likely. Grid independence allows companies to operate with reliable power generation, even during power outages. A clear example of this ability can be seen with Walmart utilizing SOFCs provided by Bloom Energy to ensure supermarkets can remain open at all times, 24/7. An advantage for SOFCs in C&I applications is the ability to operate in CHP mode, enhancing efficiency with respect to competing alternative fuel cell technologies and providing heat directly to the commercial or industrial space. On the other hand, another energy-intensive application is data centers and telecommunication networks, but in these cases, CHP is not required as overheating of the servers is the main cause for concern with respect to temperature control. For this reason, several players have stated to IDTechEx that they will not pursue power generation for data centers as a viable application area for their SOFCs.

For on-grid residential applications, a suitable choice for backup power would be lithium-ion batteries charged from the grid. Batteries are more readily available and at a cheaper price point than low-power SOFCs. A drawback is the longer start-up time and few possible cycles for solid oxide fuel cells. With connection to the gas network, SOFCs can supply CHP on a continuous basis. Pairing with batteries allows a buffer to intermittent demand in residential applications. Japan is the most mature, and largest, market for residential CHP SOFCs. Off-grid operation, with on-site gas storage coupled with a SOFC can provide continuous power. The possibility of running the fuel cell in reverse (rSOC), powered by renewables such as solar, and producing hydrogen on site is an intriguing concept – allowing the fuel cell to then run on this generated fuel. However, the hydrogen must be stored on-site, a much less convenient fuel than a hydrocarbon. Off-grid applications are a small market with approximately 0.1% of people in high income countries living off-grid.

So, what is the future of the solid oxide fuel cell market? Partnerships have been announced for high volume manufacturing, due to come online within the next five years, with different companies targeting varied applications. In other cases, such as vehicles (including marine), limited success for SOFCs is expected, with alternative fuel cell technology (PEM) set to dominate. IDTechEx has produced granular 10-year market forecasts for the global SOFC demand (MW) and market value (US$) segmented by application area based on historical data and first-hand company interviews.

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Using sensors to enable smart factories and more efficient manufacturing.

Yulin Wang, Technology Analyst at IDTechEx, discusses their recent report*.

With the high inflation, increasing labor costs, labor shortage, energy crisis, and hybrid working, the manufacturing industry experienced significant turmoil in 2022. Although some of these have started to get eased, 2023 is still expected to be a challenging year for the manufacturing industry.

Forbes recently published an article, “The 5 Biggest Business Trends In 2023 Everyone Must Get Ready For Now”, listing a few key transitions in the manufacturing industry. One of the most interesting transitions in the manufacturing business is the trend toward digital transformation. Digital transformation, along with Industry 4.0, has been a buzzword for many years. However, despite the fancy name, digital transformation is often a vague concept for manufacturers. 

IDTechEx believes that digital manufacturing can be deconstructed into two main themes: safe human-robot interaction (HRI) to achieve higher productivity and an increased level of autonomous mobility for material and goods transportation. These themes are ultimately enabled by cutting-edge sensor technologies.

Safe HRI to Achieve Higher Productivity.
Safety has always come as the overarching priority when it comes to using robots/machines in the manufacturing industry. Robots can pose a variety of hazards to workers. For example, while industrial robots are designed to operate at a safe distance from people, these devices traditionally lack the sensory skills required to identify adjacent humans. Recently, with the fast adoption of collaborative robots (cobots), human operators are directly exposed to the workspace of robots, which can lead to further collisions, risks, and dangers. In order to mitigate safety concerns, IDTechEx has seen multiple sensors, such as force and torque sensors, LiDAR, and tactile sensors being installed on robots to equip them with better environmental perception and collision avoidance capabilities. One of the critical applications of sensors in robots is proximity detection and collision detection. Proximity detection can be achieved using photoelectric sensors (photoelectric fences), LiDAR, and capacitive proximity sensors. Photoelectric sensors/light curtains can be an ideal solution for industry robots. A safety light curtain is made up of a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter transmits modulated infrared light, which is received by the receiver to create an array of light beams (also known as a light curtain). When a human operator enters or is blocked by the protection net, the light receiver circuit replies through the internal control circuit, which outputs a signal to the machine, causing the machine to slow down or stop its operation, thereby preventing the occurrence of a potential collision.

By contrast, force and torque sensors are commonly used for cobots when it comes to collision detection. Unlike industrial robots, cobots work in the same workspace as humans, meaning that a physical light curtain/fence would not suffice. IDTechEx noticed that the majority of commercialized cobots are equipped with at least one force/torque (F/T) sensor at their joints. F/T sensors have two main functions, including force measurement and collision detection. F/T sensors are typically installed around the robot’s end-effectors to measure the force. Depending on the tasks, the range of forces needs to be preset, and when the collision happens, the force or torque detected by the sensor will exceed the pre-determined range, thereby informing the robot to stop its operation. With the increasing safety requirement of HRI, more F/T sensors are expected to be installed. Most cobots have one F/T sensor installed at this stage, typically around the end-effector. However, IDTechEx has noticed that a few cobot OEMs (e.g., Franka Emika) are starting to incorporate more torque sensors on all the joints to enable better force control and collision detection.

Increased Level of Autonomous Mobility.
Autonomous mobility is one of the most important parts of a robot’s autonomy. Autonomous mobility requires the robot to have the capabilities of navigating, localizing, and avoiding obstacles. In the context of the manufacturing industry, mobile robots, especially automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), will be used for material transportation. The autonomous mobility function of mobile robots is enabled by sensors such as LiDAR, cameras, and ultrasonic sensors. 

Different sensors have benefits and drawbacks, and in reality, multiple sensors are usually used in combination with each other to achieve the best overall performance. For instance, LiDAR is relatively easy to use, and they are immune to poor weather. However, LiDAR usually comes with a high cost. By contrast, cameras or imaging sensors are the only ones that can be used for object classification/recognition, but they have poor performance when it comes to adverse weather or limited visibility. 

In terms of the manufacturing industry, IDTechEx believes that cameras will be increasingly adopted because those robots tend to work in a well-controlled indoor environment with stable illumination. At this stage, IDTechEx believes that many indoor AGVs in the manufacturing industry can perform on level 3 autonomy, meaning that the robotic onboard systems can achieve most of the autonomous driving tasks and multiple AGVs can be monitored simultaneously by one operator. 

With the trend toward level 4 and a higher level of autonomy, IDTechEx believes that more robust sensors will be incorporated.

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*A detailed analysis of the market forecast can be found in IDTechEx’s latest research, “Sensors for Robotics 2023-2043: Technologies, Markets, and Forecasts”.

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Making laboratory miniaturized spectral sensing affordable.

Unsatisfied with smartphone camera color reproduction? Would it be useful for a user to detect different materials or even assess the freshness of food using a phone or other household appliance? The emerging technology of miniaturized spectrometers and multispectral cameras holds the solution. By detecting spectral information rather than just simple RGB color coordinates, these affordable devices can reveal previously available information via specialist equipment.

Acquiring spectral information with affordable sensors is part of a growing trend to detect optical information beyond what the eye can detect. As machine vision capabilities improve, algorithms demand more comprehensive input data than conventional RGB sensors can provide.

IDTechEx’s report, “Emerging Image Sensor Technologies 2023-2033: Applications and Markets”, covers a wide range of these emerging image sensor types, including shortwave infrared (SWIR) sensors based on organic semiconductors, quantum dots or germanium, event-based vision, hyperspectral imaging, quantum imaging and more.

Application Opportunities.
The desire to add more functionality in pursuit of differentiation means that spectral image sensors are in demand for smartphones. In 2021, German research center Fraunhofer ENAS announced its objective to produce infrared spectrometers for smartphone integration that weigh 1 gram and cost just US$1. This is a substantial improvement on the classic infrared spectrometers that weigh several kilograms and cost thousands of dollars. Fraunhofer’s low-cost spectrometer will be able to detect fake medicine and drugs, test air quality, and analyze food decomposition.

A notable player commercializing affordable spectral sensing is Spectricity, an early-stage Belgian company. Earlier this year, it announced its first product – a miniaturized multispectral image sensor that can detect 16 color channels within the visible region. The greater spectral resolution compared to conventional sensors enables more accurate color reproduction, with smartphones the target market given that camera quality is determining factor for many consumer purchase decisions.

Another consumer application that can benefit from spectral sensing is wearable health monitoring. While smartwatches can already track heart rate, oxygen levels, sleep patterns and respiration rates using LED light sensors, but more sophisticated sensors would provide greater functionality. Spectrally resolving wavelengths beyond 1000 nm, for example, by using one of the emerging SWIR (short wave infrared) detection technologies such as quantum dots, enables the detection of biomarkers undetectable by visible and NIR light. Wearable devices could then monitor glucose, lactate, hydration, and alcohol levels, broadening their appeal and providing a source of differentiation amongst the current field of smartwatches with increasingly similar capabilities.

Along with consumer electronics, miniaturized spectrometers and multispectral cameras are expected to gain traction for industrial inspection and robotics since lightweight permits integration into existing equipment. The most promising tasks are object recognition and distinguishing between different materials. Spectral resolution is especially valuable when aiming to distinguish visually similar materials such as different plastics or oil/water.

Outlook.
Due to their compact nature and affordability, miniaturized spectrometers and multispectral sensors promise to bring new capabilities to handheld devices, portable electronics, and industrial imaging inspection equipment. Capabilities that were once the preserve of the laboratory can now be applied to smartwatches, smartphones, and even robotic vacuums.

Miniaturized spectral sensing market in 2033 – by application and detection range

IDTechEx’s report “Emerging Image Sensor Technologies 2023-2033: Applications and Markets” explores a diverse range of image sensing technologies capable of resolutions and wavelength detection far beyond what is currently attainable. Many of these emerging technologies are expected to make waves within numerous sectors, including robotics, industrial imaging, healthcare, biometrics, autonomous driving, agriculture, chemical sensing, and food inspection. IDTechEx expects that the growing importance of autonomous technologies will lead the emerging image sensor market to over US$500 million (€471m) by 2033.

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Emerging image sensors.

The new IDTechEx report, “Emerging Image Sensor Technologies 2023-2033: Applications and Markets”, explores a diverse range of image sensing technologies capable of resolutions and wavelength detection far beyond what is currently attainable. Many of these emerging technologies are expected to make waves within numerous sectors, including healthcare, biometrics, autonomous driving, agriculture, chemical sensing, and food inspection, among several others. IDTechEx expects that the growing importance of autonomous technologies will lead the emerging image sensor market to over US$500 million (€552m) by 2033.

Broadening Spectral Range.
Conventional CMOS detectors for visible light are prevalent within robotics, industrial image inspection, and consumer electronics; however, there is extensive opportunity for more complex image sensors that offer capabilities beyond that of simply acquiring red, green and blue (RGB) intensity values. Extensive effort is currently being devoted to developing emerging image sensor technologies that can detect aspects of light beyond the visible range into the short-wave infrared (SWIR, 1000nm – 2000 nm) range. Extending wavelength detection into the SWIR range presents many benefits as it enables the differentiation of objects and materials that appear visually similar or identical within the visible range. This substantially improves recognition accuracy and paves the way for better and more functional image sensing.

Key Questions Answered in the IDTechEx Report “Emerging Image Sensor Technologies 2023-2033: Applications and Markets” Include: What technology readiness level are these emerging image sensing technologies at? What disruptive technologies are on the horizon? Which companies are exploring emerging image sensing technologies Which applications are expected to benefit the most? How can autonomy be improved by image sensors? What are the difficulties in commercializing these emerging technologies?

A particularly important trend is the development of much cheaper alternatives to very expensive InGaAs sensors for imaging in the short-wave infrared (SWIR, 1000 – 2000 nm) spectral region, which will open this capability to a much wider range of applications. This includes autonomous vehicles, in which SWIR imaging assists with distinguishing objects and materials that appear similar in the visible spectrum while also reducing scattering from dust and fog.

There are several competitive emerging non-InGaAs SWIR technologies. These include hybrid image sensors where an additional light-absorbing thin film layer made of organic semiconductors or quantum dots is placed on top of a CMOS read-out circuit to increase the wavelength detection range into the SWIR region. Another technology is extended-range silicon, where the properties of silicon are modified to extend the absorption range beyond its bandgap limitations. Currently dominated by expensive InGaAs sensors, these new approaches promise a substantial price reduction, and that is expected to encourage the adoption of SWIR imaging for new applications such as autonomous vehicles.

New Capabilities Enabled by Emerging Image Sensors.
In addition to imaging over a broader spectral range, further innovations include imaging over a larger area, acquiring spectral data at each pixel, and simultaneously increasing temporal resolution and dynamic range. On this front, a promising technology is event-based vision. With conventional frame-based imaging, a high temporal resolution produces vast amounts of data that requires computationally intensive processing. Event-based vision resolves this challenge by presenting a completely new way of thinking about obtaining optical information, in which each sensor pixel reports timestamps that correspond to intensity changes. As such, event-based vision can combine greater temporal resolution of rapidly changing image regions with much-reduced data transfer and subsequent processing requirements.

Another promising innovation is the increasing miniaturization and conformality of sensor technology, making it easier than ever to integrate a sensor into a robotic arm, industrial inspection machinery, or consumer electronics. These are an application the burgeoning market of miniaturized spectrometers is targeting. Driven by the growth in smart electronics and Internet of Things devices, low-cost, miniaturized spectrometers are becoming increasingly relevant across different sectors. The complexity and functionalization of standard visible light sensors can be significantly improved through the integration of miniaturized spectrometers that can detect from the visible to the SWIR region of the spectrum with high spectral resolution. The future being imagined by researchers at Fraunhofer is a spectrometer weighing just 1 gram and costing a single dollar. Miniaturized spectrometers are expected to deliver inexpensive solutions to improve autonomous efficiency through enhanced material, object, and color differentiation.

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Future mobility.

A subscription option focused on Future Mobility is being offered by IDTechEx as part of their market intelligence subscription services, including over 10,000 original analyst-created slides, more than 100 forecast lines across 50+ mobility markets, over 200 company based profiles based on primary research, and much more.

The Future Mobility Research Subscription provides clients across the value chain with all the on-going data and independent analysis on the mobility industry they need in one place. Users can access IDTechEx's extensive market intelligence research on electric vehicles, energy storage, autonomy, components and materials, and more, all through one on-demand online platform.

From megatrends to a deep analysis of componentry and materials, the research is driven by a highly technical analyst team who are embedded in the industry, and the subscription includes dedicated time with these experts. The team works directly with clients to understand their key objectives and needs within the mobility industry, helping them to meet their goals.

Luke Gear, Principal Analyst and leader of IDTechEx’s research on future mobility, said “Over the past ten years, electric vehicle markets have surpassed expectations, growing at 86% CAGR. With governments doubling down on emissions regulation, and automaker investment increasing, electric vehicles are set to transform mobility over the next two decades. However, the greatest impact may come from the rise of autonomous vehicles, which we predict will have a profound effect on the auto market, leading to a fundamental ‘peak car’ scenario.

“Enabling these megatrends are advancements and cost reductions to the underlying componentry and materials. From Li-ion batteries to LiDAR, there are plenty of innovations to come as the industry strives to close the performance gap with internal-combustion engines, increase safety, lower costs, and overcome regulatory barriers.”

He added, “IDTechEx has the most comprehensive coverage of all aspects of the future mobility industry and is unique in providing in-depth analysis for all categories of vehicle. Our research provides an independent view of the key trends driving the latest industry decisions, and subscription clients gain access to all of this research in real-time, allowing them to stay ahead of the curve”.

Subscription packages are bespoke and can include research reports, in-depth, expert-written premium research articles on technology and market trends, company profiles with SWOT analysis, 10 and 20 year market forecasts, presentations, industry news, conference reports, webinars and more.

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Has the printed temperature sensors time come?

Information regarding printed temperature sensors, and indeed about any of the wide variety of printed/flexible sensor technologies, can be found in a recently updated report,  “Printed and Flexible Sensors 2022-2032: Technologies, Players, Markets”.  Technologies covered in the report include printed photodetectors, pressure sensors, gas sensors, capacitive touch sensors, wearable electrodes, and more. Here DTechEx's Dr. Matthew Dyson discusses developments.

Think of a temperature sensor - and a traditional glass thermometer, or perhaps a small thermistor would probably spring to mind. However, a new class of temperature sensors is rapidly emerging that offers spatial resolution together with a thin-film format.

This new class of temperature sensors is made from a solution-processable semiconductor that is coated between conductive rows and columns in a passive matrix architecture. Both the temperature sensing semiconducting layer and the conductors can be printed onto flexible substrates such as PET, enabling low-cost production of a wide range of shapes and sizes.

Why now?
With the ability to provide spatially resolved temperature resolution at a low cost, it might seem surprising that printed temperature sensors are not already widespread. IDTechEx identify two main reasons.

Firstly, existing temperature sensors are cheap, well understood, and very small. While conventional inorganic thermistors or platinum resistive temperature detectors (RTDs) are certainly not flexible, they are generally so small that incorporating them into a component or device doesn’t impose any form factor constraints.

Secondly, thermal diffusion is quite slow. This means that thermal gradients are usually very gentle, certainly when compared to spatial variation in force or light intensity for example. As such, introducing measurement with fine spatial resolution is unnecessary in many cases, since a few thermistors or RTDs embedded in a thermally conductive layer provide equivalent insights.

However, while both of these factors remain true, emerging application areas mean that a combination of spatially resolved temperature measurement, low-cost roll-to-roll (R2R) production, and flexible thin-film format mean that demand for printed temperature sensors is forecast to grow substantially over the next decade, with an increasing number of companies developing this technology.

Battery monitoring for electric vehicles
A forthcoming increase in electric vehicle (EV) adoption is almost unarguable, with multiple governments legislating to ban the sale of internal combustion engines for vehicles at various points in the future. This technological transition is already creating huge opportunities for battery manufacturers.

Thermal management is extremely important for batteries, as anyone who has noticed their smartphone battery life plummet when subjected to heat or cold will attest. Batteries work best within a narrow temperature range, while hot spots can provide an early indication of malfunctions.

Keeping track of battery temperature to adjust heating or cooling as required of course requires temperature sensors. Printed temperature sensors are well suited to this purpose as they are lightweight, thin, cheap to produce in high volumes, offer good thermal contact with pouch cells, and can be laminated together with thin-film heaters to produce an integrated thermal management solution.

Healthcare applications
Printed temperature sensors are also highly promising for healthcare applications. The key attribute here is conformality since printed thin-film sensors can adapt to the curvature of the skin. Indeed, there is growing interest in continuous healthcare monitoring, which will provide extensive opportunities for many types of printed sensors. It involves the continuous tracking of various parameters such as heart rate and temperature to enable remote patient monitoring.

A specific healthcare application currently being explored for printed temperature sensors includes wound monitoring since the healing process is associated with increased blood flow and thus slightly elevated temperatures. The spatial resolution available with printed temperature sensors thus enables the extent of the wound to be tracked over time.

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Printed and flexible sensors - forecast.

Printed and flexible sensors constitute the largest printed electronics market outside of displays. Indeed, we forecast that the market for fully printed sensors will reach 4.9 billion by 2032. This growth is despite the sustained displacement of its largest market - printed glucose test strips - with continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) approaches. Market growth of the overall category is therefore enabled by the rise of many new applications and technologies.

The new report from IDTechEx, “Printed and Flexible Sensors 2022-2032: Technologies, Players, Markets”, comprehensively explores the printed and flexible sensor landscape covering both established and emerging technologies with an extremely broad range of applications. Specifically, the report covers:

• Piezoresistive sensors
• Piezoelectric sensors
• Printed photodetectors
• Temperature sensors
• Strain sensors
• Capacitive touch sensors
• Gas sensors
• Biological sensors
• Flexible wearable electrodes

Motivation for printed and flexible sensors
Printed sensors span a diverse range of technologies and applications, ranging from image sensors to wearable electrodes. Each sensor category seeks to offer a distinctive value proposition over the incumbent technology, with distinct technological and commercial challenges on route to widespread adoption.

Despite this diversity, there are multiple factors that are driving the adoption of many types of printed/flexible sensors. Most important is the increasing adoption of ‘IoT’ and ‘Industry 4.0’ since they will require extensive networks of often wirelessly connected low-cost and unobtrusive sensors. Additionally, the thin-film form factor and conformality of printed/flexible sensors enable them to be incorporated within smaller devices, thus providing increased freedom for designers to differentiate their products and potentially new use cases.

Printed and flexible sensor technologiesPrinted and flexible sensor technologies
Some of the most commercially promising printed and flexible sensor technologies covered in the report include: 

Capacitive touch sensors - well-established and widely used for transparent touch sensors such as smartphones and tablets. However, there is still extensive scope for innovation within capacitive touch in terms of the transparent conductive materials used, the ability to sense touch over large area displays, and alternative applications for capacitive sensing such as leak detection and interactive surfaces.

Piezoresistive force sensors - a longstanding application, widely used today in car occupancy sensors, musical instruments, industrial equipment, and some medical devices. While these markets are somewhat commoditized, the sector is innovating to access new, differentiated, higher-value applications. One example is 3D touch panels that can measure applied force as a function position, thus enabling the recognition of complex HMI gestures than the incumbent capacitive touch panels. Suppliers are continuing to target phones, computer gaming, and automotive interiors.

Gas sensors - an area undergoing continued innovation, with emerging approaches utilizing functionalized carbon nanotubes and solution-processable semiconductors. Gas sensors are already used in many industrial contexts and are likely to be increasingly adopted as concern about air pollution grows. Another promising long-term application in which printed gas sensors offer unique capability is directly printing onto food packaging to measure food degradation.

Temperature sensors - can be printed, for example using either a composite ink with silicon nanoparticles or carbon nanotubes. Their main challenge is the low cost, lightweight, and ubiquity of very mature solutions such as thermistors and resistive temperature detectors. As such, printed temperature sensors have the clearest value proposition applications that require spatial resolution using a conformal array, such as monitoring wounds or skin complaints. Monitoring batteries in electric vehicles is another highly promising application that is receiving increased interest, with the lightweight and ease of integration with pouch cells the main attractions.

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Drones!

Now that drones are being used more, either experimentally or more generally, in delivery services and other applications we thought this item might be of interest to our visitors.

IDTechEx’s recent market research report on Drones and their associated technologies predicts the drone market to be over $22Bn (€19bn) by 2041. The report “Drone Market and Industries 2021-2041” covers the key areas of the drone environment, such as the hardware, software and sensors which are critical to drone use cases and adoption. This article discusses the key areas of the drone market and drone design.

What are the main use cases for drones in 2030, 2040?
Who are the major players in the drone market?
What are the key drivers for market growth?
What is the projected revenue for the drones market from 2020 onwards?
What is the drone market segmentation?
What is the drone segmentation between consumer and commercial drones?

Drones have, once again, opened up the possibility of experimenting with the aerodynamic design of flying objects. The aircraft industry itself spent decades experimenting with the design of aircraft, both in civilian and military applications. Indeed, numerous technologies failed and some succeeded before the outlines of the general dominant designs emerged.

Drones have also represented an opportunity for novel designs: they are light-weight, battery-powered, and electrically-propelled. All these components can be arranged in many new novel ways, which in the past few years led to an explosion of designs. This report provides you with the insight and understanding to make insightful decisions about this key market area.

Different drones have different applications. Rotary drones are typically more efficient designs for smaller drone sizes. This is due to their design. With four fixed-pitch props, there are few moving parts and this reduces the cost of the drone. However, this design does not scale up very well.

Quadcopters require a stabilization for each of their motors in order to fly. In order for the drone to stay stable in the air, it needs to individually adjust the thrust in each of its props. As a quadcopter requires its motors to speed up or slow down to adjust the thrust, there needs to be a built-in time delay to how fast the drone can react, as it takes time to change the speed of the prop due to its inertia. So scaling the drone up to a larger size does not work, because the larger the propeller, the more energy it takes to change its speed. This either needs a drastic oversize of each motor, which would increase the weight, or have a slow dynamic response, which would impact handling.

As a result of this, fixed wing drones are typically used for longer distances, where less dynamic handling is required. Use cases include surveying or mapping, where the drone can follow a fixed path and map a large area whilst remaining in the VLOS of the drone pilot.

With different designs of drones, different use cases are more suited to them. The report provides  insight into the different applications for drone technologies. The use cases of agricultural, search and rescue, mapping and localization, delivery, and consumer drones are considered and analyzed with forecasts for both 2021-2031 and 2031-2041. It provides an understanding in each of these use case areas and their market predictions for the next two decades. 

One key area of importance is regulations for different use cases. For example, there are restrictions over where the drone can fly. It cannot fly in built-up areas, around airports (up to 5km) away, and similar urban situations. This limits applications such as drone delivery, as the drones will only be able to deliver to rural locations. Furthermore, privacy restrictions do not permit recordings over private property in some countries. This limits the use cases in delivery or infrastructure management for a domestic setting. The report covers the different country restrictions for drones, and summarizes the impact of these on the drone market in the future.

Drones sales revenue. Source: IDTechEx

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The most disruptive technology of the next decade.

Virtual reality has already had a major impact in a range of different industries. IDTechEx predicts in its recent market research report that this technology will grow to $8Bn (€6.75Bn) by 2030. One way that virtual reality has been used is in planning. VR technologies have recently been shown by an article in the Financial Times to be used by the City of London Corporation to help with planning decisions for future office areas. Virtual reality will be a key technology of the next decade, with IDTechEx predicting that the augmented and virtual reality market will grow to over $30Bn (€25.3Bn) by 2030.

A timeline of some of the major AR and VR headsets of the past. Source: IDTechEx

The City of London collaboration was between the City of London Corporation, Innovate UK, New London Architecture (NLA) and VU.CITY. The level of detail captured by the project is down to a 2cm accuracy in a nearly 3km square area. This is a first for an area of this size, and aims to help planners realize what “plans offer in terms of space, enhancement of the public realm and to the City,” according to Alastair Moss, Chair of the Planning and Transportation Committee at the City of London Corporation. The ability to plan cities with VR technology will allow for more highly advanced urban planning solutions.

 

Virtual, augmented and mixed reality products have continued to receive high levels of funding and investment during the 2010 decade. This is predicted to continue into the next decade. IDTechEx forecasts that the AR/VR and MR to be over $30Bn (€25.3Bn) by 2030. This market will impact many different industries and its use cases wide-reaching and the technology will continue to innovate and accelerate innovation in these industries.

 

Key Questions answered in these two reports include: What are the major drivers for optic or display choice in an AR/MR or VR device? What are the major drivers in the adoption of AR/MR and VR devices? Which use cases benefit the most from this technology? How will the sales of VR and AR/MR devices evolve from 2020-2030 and what are the drivers behind future growth?

IDTechEx has a range of market research reports covering virtual reality, augmented reality, and mixed reality products. Part of the wearables portfolio, the parent report “Augmented, Mixed and Virtual Reality 2020-2030” and the detailed technology analysis of “Optics and Displays in AR, VR and MR 2020-2030: Technologies, Players and Markets” provide the key insights and deep analysis of this innovative technology for the next decade.  The detailed market research parent report reviews and analyzes over 100 products and details of over 80 companies, to create detailed conclusions about the future of this market. Alongside this, IDTechEx offers a second deeper dive report into the optics and display technologies in AR/MR/VR devices.

The impact of COVID-19

Recently the versatility of mixed and augmented reality products has come to the forefront of the news, with an Imperial led project at the Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. COVID has put the spotlight on this hands-free, interactive technology, and it is unlikely that this focus will move for some time. There will be a need for this technology in many new use cases, which previously did not require hands-free, or remote capabilities.

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