The Latin America Inertial Systems Market is expected to register a CAGR of 10.2% during the forecast period.
Key Highlights
- The rise of low-cost airlines is expected to boost market opportunities. According to Boeing, the market demand for flight operations services in the aerospace industry in 2017 was USD 1,870 million and is expected to rise to USD 4,975 million by 2035.
- Increased decentralization in global affairs and increased defense budgets are expected to drive market growth. The defense sector has numerous inertial systems applications like Missile Guidance, Precision Guided Munitions, Control and Targeting, Tank Turret Stabilization, and Torpedo Guidance.
- Further, the addition of microelectromechanical systems, or MEMS technology, has broadened market opportunities. The technology is widely used in field sensors and semiconductors. Small-diameter missiles, underwater navigators, and unmanned underwater vehicles also increase demand for high-end MEMS sensors in the defense sector. The growing modernization of weaponry with the advent of smart weapons and advanced tanks is also an essential driver for the market.
- The rapid advancement in technology and compels the market players to innovate new products with advanced features. Strategic collaborations and partnerships which enable companies to leverage their synergies are also on the rise. For instance, in October 2021, Thales Group partnered with CS Group to develop a comprehensive cyber-secure navigation system for use on naval surface ships. The collaboration brings together Thales' expertise in inertial navigation systems and CS Group's experience in smart cyber-protected mission-critical systems.
- Moreover, Inertial sensors are used in biomedical instruments extensively for their multi-function characteristics. The inertial systems are increasingly being used in medical equipment, including MRI devices, intelligent patient beds, surgical robots, and angiography equipment. Government initiatives like the Plan Nacer in Argentina have been immensely successful and popular in the country. The tax-funded Unified Health System has changed the healthcare system in Brazil. With Columbia establishing the right to healthcare in its constitution, among many other plans, overhauled the healthcare system in the region. As the healthcare sector widens in Latin America, it would also propel the inertial systems market.
Latin America Inertial Systems Market Trends
The Growing Demand for Unmanned Vehicles is Expected to Drive the Market
- The booming demand for Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUV) is the primary factor driving the market's expansion. UUVs are being widely used in oil and gas exploration. The increasing gas and oil production and exploration activities in Latin America would aid the market's growth. For instance, according to the CIA (The World Factbook), in 2020, Brazil and Mexico amounted to 3% and 2.2%, respectively, of the total worldwide crude oil export value.
- The UUVs are used in the defense industry for deactivating underwater mines, counterattacking, port security, and hull inspection. Underwater drones aid in oceanographic studies for mapping the ocean floor in scientific research. They are also employed in scientific research and defense weaponry, where high precision is required.
- With the rising consumption of oil and gas globally, the UUVs are increasingly being used for oil rig constructions, pipeline inspections, and maintenance activities, thereby fueling the demand for the product. For instance, according to Baker Hughes, Latin America has a total of 152 oil and gas rigs as of October 2021, of which 33 rigs are offshore.
- Moreover, technological advancements such as the introduction of light-powered and compact-sized navigation systems that use ring laser gyros (RLG) and fiber optic gyros (FOG) contribute to the market's positive outlook.
- The global oil industry encountered a sudden drop in demand across various countries due to the severe impact of COVID-19. For instance, according to UNCTAD, global maritime transport plummeted by 4.1% in 2020 compared to the previous year due to unexpected disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The disorder has principally hampered the supply chain, shipping network, trade volumes, and port in the studied market, temporarily restraining the market growth.
Automotive Segment is Expected to hold a Significant Market Share
- The advancement of the global lifestyle has resulted in a greater demand for equipment that is easier to use, which has enabled the use of motion-sensing technology that heavily relies on inertial sensors. These sensors are widely used in the automotive industry to improve safety, performance, and cost-effectiveness.
- The emergence of MEMS technology increased automotive production, and high investments in defense, military, and sub-sea vehicles are just a few factors driving the automotive inertial systems market, while high cost and complexity are stifling the market growth.
- The rising demand for automobile safety is boosting the market's growth. Every year, approximately 1.35 million people are killed in road accidents worldwide, according to the World Health Organization.
- Furthermore, between 20 and 50 million more people suffer non-fatal injuries, with many becoming disabled as a result. MEMS accelerometers play a critical role in improving vehicle safety features.
- The current generation of automobiles is heavily reliant on data collected from various sensors installed in the vehicle. Gyroscopes and accelerometers provide critical measurements for improving vehicle control and stability. These sensors are prone to producing significant noise at low frequencies, resulting in low measurement accuracy, particularly under low-dynamic conditions, thereby accelerating market demand during the forecast period.
Latin America Inertial Systems Industry Overview
The Latin America Inertial Systems Market is moderately competitive and consists of several major players. In terms of market share, a few of the major players like Analog Devices Inc., Honeywell International Inc., ST Microelectronics, etc., currently dominate the market. These players are focusing on expanding their customer base globally.
- October 2021 - Honeywell introduced the Precision Boresight Alignment System (PBAS), which is intended to improve positioning and location accuracy in various aerospace and non-aerospace applications. The system is made up of two small electrical boxes. The first attaches to the item that needs to be aligned, such as the navigation system, and the second attaches to whatever it should be aligned to, the aircraft. Each box contains three gyroscopes that function similarly to other inertial navigators to determine positioning data. The boxes are linked to a central computer, which displays the data from which the technician notices discrepancies.
- October 2021 - STMicroelectronics introduced the Teseo-VIC3DA, the latest member of the Teseo module family. The Teseo-VIC3DA navigation module combines ST's high-performance Automotive Teseo III GNSS1 IC with the automotive 6-axis MEMS inertial measurement unit (IMU) and dead reckoning software to form a convenient, automotive-qualified navigation module. The Teseo-VIC3DA module enables applications such as in-car navigation, fleet management, and insurance monitoring.
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