Inertial Measurement Unit Global Market Report 2024

An Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) is a device designed to measure and report an object's specific gravity and angular rate when attached to it. It consists of three key components: gyroscopes for measuring angular rate, accelerometers for gauging specific force or acceleration, and magnetometers for assessing the magnetic field in the vicinity of the system. IMUs find applications in various industries, including aerospace, defense, automotive, consumer electronics, and others. Common uses for IMUs encompass control and stabilization, navigation and correction, measurement and testing, as well as mobile mapping.

The primary types of IMUs include accelerometers, gyroscopes, magnetometers, and other specialized components. Accelerometers are devices capable of detecting vibrations or accelerations of motion in a structure. They operate by compressing piezoelectric material in response to vibration or changes in motion (acceleration), generating an electrical charge proportional to the applied force. IMUs are categorized into various grades, including marine grade, navigation grade, tactical grade, space grade, and commercial grade. End-users of IMUs span industries such as aerospace and defense, consumer electronics, marine/naval, automotive, and other specialized sectors.

The inertial measurement unit market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides inertial measurement unit market statistics, including inertial measurement unit industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a inertial measurement unit market share, detailed inertial measurement unit market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the inertial measurement unit industry. This inertial measurement unit market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.

The inertial measurement unit market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $22.08 billion in 2023 to $23.83 billion in 2024 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.9%. The growth observed in the historical period can be attributed to factors such as the increased use of inertial measurement units in aerospace and defense applications, the growing integration of these units in consumer electronics, the adoption of IMUs for automotive safety measures, a rise in demand for geospatial and mapping applications, as well as an increased need for IMUs in industrial machinery.

The inertial measurement unit market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $32.37 billion in 2028 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.0%. The anticipated growth in the forecast period can be attributed to the rising demand for inertial measurement units in healthcare and medical devices, as well as the increasing utilization of IMUs in drones and UAVs. Additionally, the expanding market for autonomous vehicles, the growing reliance on satellite navigation and GNSS augmentation, and the increasing need for smart agriculture solutions are contributing factors. Key trends expected in the forecast period encompass the adoption of MEMS IMUs, the application of sensor fusion technology, a trend towards miniaturization, the use of Kalman filtering techniques, and the integration of inertial sensing in healthcare applications.

The inertial measurement unit (IMU) market is being propelled by the surge in new smartphone sales and shipment growth. IMUs play a crucial role in smartphones, enabling a wide array of applications including navigation, gaming, and fitness tracking. Popular features like step counting, gesture recognition, and image stabilization rely on IMUs, garnering increasing popularity among consumers. As per IBEF, there was an 11% year-on-year increase in smartphone shipments in India, rising from 150 million in 2020 to 168 million in 2021. Projections indicate that smartphone shipments will remain steady at 187-190 million in 2022, with 5G device shipments experiencing a remarkable 129% year-on-year surge from 28 million in 2021 to an estimated 64 million in 2022. Therefore, the swift expansion in new smartphone sales and shipments is anticipated to be a significant driver for the inertial measurement unit market.

The growing adoption of robotics across industries is poised to further propel the inertial measurement unit market. Robotics, an interdisciplinary field encompassing mechanical, electronic, and information engineering along with computer science, focuses on the creation, operation, and application of robots. IMUs play a crucial role by providing precise motion tracking and orientation data, ensuring accurate navigation and control of robots. In October 2022, the International Federation of Robotics reported a record-breaking deployment of 517,385 industrial robots in global factories in 2021, marking a substantial 31% year-on-year growth. Specifically, in the Americas, 50,712 industrial robots were deployed in 2021, reflecting a 31% growth compared to the previous year. Hence, the increasing adoption of robotics in industries is a significant driving force behind the inertial measurement unit market.

Technological advancements represent a prominent trend in the inertial measurement unit market. There has been notable progress in the development of the next generation of micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) inertial sensor technology. These enhanced MEMS sensors employ alternative sensor and circuit designs to elevate performance in autonomous UAV and UGV platforms, including future urban air mobility aircraft. For instance, in January 2021, Honeywell International received funding from the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to advance the next generation of MEMS inertial sensor technology for both commercial and defense navigation applications.

Leading companies in the inertial measurement unit market are introducing miniature tactical-grade IMUs like the Pulse-40 IMU to offer a compact yet high-performance inertial measurement solution. The Pulse-40 IMU is designed for exceptional performance in demanding conditions. Launched by SBG Systems in February 2022, this tactical-grade IMU integrates advanced MEMS three-axis accelerometers and gyroscopes in a redundant design. It boasts impressive gyro and accelerometer bias instability of 0.8°/h and 6µg. The Pulse-40 is built to withstand high-vibration environments of up to 10 g RMS, ensuring consistent data reliability through its embedded Continuous Built-In-Test.

In December 2021, Inertial Labs, a US-based manufacturer of orientation and navigation sensor solutions, acquired Memsense for an undisclosed amount. This acquisition is expected to bolster Inertial Labs' production capabilities, meeting the demands of defense and larger aerospace contracts for navigation applications. Additionally, it paves the way for the introduction of new products in areas like autonomy, GPS-denied navigation, and industrial machinery. Memsense is a US-based developer of inertial measurement units tailored for defense and aerospace platforms.

Major companies operating in the inertial measurement unit market include Bosch Sensortec GmbH, Thales Group, Sensonor AS, Analog Devices Inc., Gladiator Technologies, Honeywell Aerospace Inc., Northrop Grumman Corporation, Safran SA, General Electric Company, Kearfott Corporation, KVH Industries Inc., Collins Aerospace Systems, Systron Donner Inertial Inc., Israel Aircraft Industries Ltd., L3Harris Technologies Inc., VectorNav Technologies Corp., SBG Systems, Beijing Navgnss Integration Co. Ltd., BeiJing StarNeto Technology Co. Ltd., MEMSIC Inc., Epson Europe Electronics GmbH, MicroStrain Inc., Xsens Technologies B.V., Memsense LLC, STMicroelectronics NV, ACEINNA Inc., NXP Semiconductors N.V., TDK Corporation

North America was the largest region in the inertial measurement unit market in 2023, and it is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the inertial measurement unit market analysis report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa.

The countries covered in the inertial measurement unit market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA.

The inertial measurement unit market consists of sales of FOG (Fiber Optic Gyroscope), the RLG IMUs (Ring Laser Gyroscope), and lastly, IMU based on MEMS technology (Micro Electro-Mechanical Systems). Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.


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