Drone Autopilots Market

Drone Autopilots Market Size

The global Drone Autopilots Market size was valued at USD 687.7 million in 2022 and is projected to reach USD 1,016.2 million by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 5.09% from 2023 to 2030. Increasing demand for drones in industries such as the military and defense has led to a strong emphasis on technological advancements by drone manufacturers to enhance performance. As a result, there has been a substantial rise in demand for drone autopilot systems.

Additionally, there has been a surge in research and development activities aimed at improving drones and their autopilot systems, buoyed by investments in automation. These trends have created numerous potential growth opportunities in the drone industry. For instance, in April 2023, Embention entered into a collaboration with prominent VTOL manufacturers, including the US-based company Aergility. Aergility specializing in the unmanned aerial vehicle industry and the development of Atlis, a long-range, high-payload, fully autonomous, hybrid-electric powered VTOL.

However, incorporating open-source software (OSS) components into commercial autopilot systems is likely to fuel the drone autopilots market growth. UAV manufacturers have to address the issues of compatibility, reliability, and security of OSS components to ensure the safety and performance of their drones. Additionally, strict regulations in certain regions regarding drone operations can pose a challenge for the market.

Analyst’s Review

The integration of advanced technologies to enhance product quality and efficiency and the development of sophisticated software with autopilot features and fleet management capabilities are likely to propel market growth. Moreover, the rising use of drones in precision agriculture and delivery services, and the increasing demand for drones in the media and entertainment industries for capturing aerial footage is propelling the drone autopilots market growth. Additionally, the market is expected to grow significantly in the coming years, with the rising use of drones in diverse fields such as environmental monitoring, scientific research, surveillance and security, and search and rescue missions.

Market Definition

Drone autopilot systems allow unmanned aerial vehicles, such as drones or UAS, to perform entire missions autonomously without the need for manual remote control. There are a number of autopilot systems available on the market today, ranging from open-source flight control software, such as PX4 Autopilot, to proprietary systems such as the Veronte Autopilot. Autopilots provide a complete system that enables your drone to fly autonomously to waypoints by measuring position and orientation through GPS, IMUs, and other sensors. Companies such as UAV Navigation specialize in the development of professional autopilots and flight control systems used in a wide range of UAVs.

Drone autopilots have a wide range of applications, including but not limited to aerial inspections, agriculture, search and rescue missions, media and entertainment, surveillance and security, environmental monitoring, delivery services, and scientific research. Drone autopilot systems allow unmanned aerial vehicles to perform these missions autonomously without the need for manual remote control, and can be combined with other sensors and software to optimize the performance of the drone in each specific application. As technology advances, an increasing number of applications for drone autopilots can be seen in the future.

Drone Autopilots Market Dynamics

Drone autopilots have proven to be a valuable tool in search and rescue operations due to their ability to fly autonomously and cover large areas quickly and efficiently. Drones equipped with autopilots and a variety of sensors can be used to search for survey disaster zones, missing persons, and monitor hazardous areas. Additionally, the use of AI and computer vision technologies have made it possible for drones to detect and locate humans in emergency situations, improving the chances of successful rescues. As drone autopilot technology continues to advance, a wider range of applications for drones in search and rescue operations can be expected.

Segmentation Analysis

The global drone autopilots market is segmented based on type, application, and geography.

By Type

Based on the type, the market is bifurcated into computer-assisted flight autopilot, full-automatic autopilot, and manual flight autopilot. The computer assisted flight autopilot segment held the largest market share of 49.22% in 2022. Computer-assisted flight autopilot is a type of drone autopilot that combines both manual and automatic piloting to provide better control during a mission. This type of autopilot system allows pilots to focus on mission goals while the drone flies autonomously and follows a set flight path. The drone industry is currently witnessing several notable trends, some of them are the development of sophisticated software with autopilot features and fleet management capabilities, the integration of advanced technologies to enhance product quality and efficiency, and the use of drones in precision agriculture and delivery services.

By Application

Based on the application, the drone autopilots market is categorized into multirotor UAVs, fixed wing UAVs, parafoil UAVs, and others. The multirotor UAVs segment accumulated the largest market share of 53.72% in 2022. Multirotor drones are popular among drone enthusiasts and professionals as a result of their maneuverability and stability during flight. Autopilot systems for multirotor drones typically include advanced features such as GPS navigation, obstacle avoidance, and return-to-home capabilities.

Companies including Sky-Drones Technologies, Embention, and MicroPilot offer autopilot hardware specifically designed for multirotor drones. Additionally, autopilot systems such as Veronte Autopilot are designed to provide greater autonomy and control over the missions when integrated with multirotor drones with any shape and number of rotors.

Drone Autopilots Market Regional Analysis

Based on regional analysis, the global market is classified into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, MEA, and Latin America.

North America dominated the drone autopilots market in 2022, with a significant share of 39.43% due to increased investments in automations and governmental initiatives. Additionally, increasing research and development of drone autopilot systems in the region to gain significant traction over the forecast period. Several companies based in the USA, including ModalAI, Embention, and UAV Navigation, are involved in developing autonomous flight control and communication systems for drones, including autopilots. Additionally, the PX4 autopilot, open-source software for autopilots, is widely used by drone developers in the USA.

Competitive Landscape

The global drone autopilots industry study report will provide valuable insight with an emphasis on the fragmented nature of the global market. Prominent players are focusing on several key business strategies such as partnerships, mergers and acquisitions, product innovations, and joint ventures to expand their product portfolio and increase their respective market shares across different regions. Expansion & investments involve a range of strategic initiatives including investments in R&D activities, new manufacturing facilities, and supply chain optimization.

List of Key Companies in Drone Autopilots Market

• Collins Aerospace
• Embention
• Sky-Drones Technologies LTD
• MicroPilot
• Robota
• A-techSYN Ltd. Co. Ltd
• ModalAI
• Adsys Controls Inc.
• Lockheed Martin Corporation
• UAVOS Inc
• UAV Navigation
• THREOD SYSTEMS

Key Industry Developments

• May 2023 (Launch): Embention has recently introduced Veronte Autopilot DRx with distributed redundancy during XPONENTIAL 2023. The Veronte Autopilot DRx, which is the first distributed redundancy autopilot that is readily available, has been expertly crafted and created to meet the most rigorous eVTOL certification standards.
• March 2023 (Partnership): Embention has entered into a partnership with Dronetech, a company focused on manufacturing and designing UAVs that feature VTOL technology. Dronetech is actively engaged in developing top-of-the-line VTOL aircraft with the primary goal of optimizing safety and reliability.
• April 2022 (Collaboration): Septentrio has collaborated with MicroPilot, a globally recognized professional UAV autopilot manufacturer. Septentrio’s line of receivers, including its compact mosaic modules and its OEM board, AsteRx-m3, will facilitate the effortless incorporation of positioning and orientation functionalities into MicroPilot's autopilot ecosystem.
• November 2021 (Launch): ModalAI, a manufacturer of intelligent and secure drone and robot technology under the Blue UAS Framework, has launched two new products for developers. The VOXL CAM perception engine and the Seeker micro-development drone facilitate the swift and efficient production of smaller, more intelligent, and safer robots and drones.

The global Drone Autopilots Market is segmented as:

By Type

• Computer Assisted Flight Autopilot
• Full-Automatic Autopilot
• Manual Flight Autopilot

By Application

• Multirotor UAVs
• Fixed Wing UAVs
• Parafoil UAVs
• Others

By Region

• North America
  • U.S.
  • Canada
  • Mexico
• Europe
  • France
  • UK
  • Spain
  • Germany
  • Italy
  • Russia
  • Rest of Europe
• Asia Pacific
  • China
  • Japan
  • India
  • South Korea
  • Rest of Asia Pacific
• Middle East & Africa
  • GCC
  • North Africa
  • South Africa
  • Rest of Middle East & Africa
• Latin America
  • Brazil
  • Argentina
  • Rest of Latin America