The radar sensor market has been a fast-growing segment in recent years and is expected to grow significantly in the coming years. Radar sensors are used in a wide range of applications, including automotive, aerospace and defense, industrial, security and surveillance, traffic monitoring and management, environmental and weather detection, and more. Among them, the growth of the automotive industry is one of the major factors driving the development of the radar sensor market. The development of autonomous driving technology and the increasing application of advanced driver assistance systems are driving the demand for radar sensors. According to the research of Minsheng Securities, there are three kinds of radars that are gradually put on the car to strengthen the perception ability.
Ultrasonic radar: ADAS applications are mature and the barriers to competition are low
Ultrasonic radar is a sensor that is widely used in the automotive field, especially in reversing assist systems. It measures the distance between the vehicle and the obstacle by emitting ultrasonic waves and receiving the reflected sound waves. Ultrasonic radar usually has three working frequencies of 40kHz, 48kHz and 58kHz, the higher the frequency, the higher the sensitivity, but the smaller the detection angle. There are two main types of ultrasonic radar applications in automobiles: UPA (reversing radar installed on the front and rear bumpers of a car to measure front and rear obstacles) and APA (radar installed on the side of a car to measure the distance of side obstacles). The detection distance of UPA is generally between 15-250cm, while the detection distance of APA can be farther, reaching 30~500cm. In terms of technology, the electrical characteristics of ultrasonic radar have undergone an evolution from analog, four-line digital, two-line digital to three-wire active digital. The digital reversing radar system improves the anti-interference performance by amplifying and processing the signal inside the sensor. In addition, modern ultrasonic radar systems are equipped with automatic fault diagnosis technology, anti-resonance, high and low temperature resistance, and waterproofing.
Figure: Position of the ultrasonic radar
Currently, the ultrasonic radar market is mainly dominated by Tier 1 vendors. According to QYPResearch, Valeo and Bosch accounted for more than 50% of the global ultrasonic radar market in 2018. As of May 2021, there are 8,998 models on sale according to Autohome, of which 7,074 are equipped with reversing radars, with a penetration rate of 79%; There are 2,531 models equipped with forward radar, with a penetration rate of 28%. Ultrasonic radar technology is now relatively mature, with high market penetration and low prices. With the development of the market, domestic manufacturers such as Audiwell have also begun to enter this field.
Figure: Global ultrasonic radar market share in 2018
Domestic manufacturers such as Zhi Electronics and Guangzhou Audiowell have also laid out and developed in the field of ultrasonic radar, among which Tongzhi Electronics is the first supplier in the OEM market of reversing radar in Asia. With the advancement of technology and the popularization of applications, ultrasonic radar will continue to play an important role in improving the safety and driving convenience of automobiles. In terms of regional market analysis, Asia-Pacific is expected to witness significant growth during the forecast period, mainly due to the rapid development of the automotive and consumer electronics industries in countries such as China, Japan, and India. Moreover, the North American region is expected to hold a significant share of the global radar sensor market due to its advanced technological infrastructure and high adoption of smart city initiatives.
In addition, the radar sensor market is driven by several factors, including technological advancements, increasing demand for automotive safety, and the development of smart cities and industrial automation. As these trends continue, the radar sensor market is expected to continue to expand in the coming years.
For more info:
