KnowMade announces the release of its new report Imaging Radar for Autonomous Systems – Patent Landscape Analysis 2025. This extensive intellectual property (IP) study provides an in-depth view of global patenting activities in imaging radar, a fast-emerging sensor technology enabling high-resolution 3D/4D perception for autonomous mobility, robotics, and beyond.
Imaging radar goes beyond traditional radar by capturing range, velocity, azimuth, and elevation simultaneously, generating dense 3D/4D point clouds. This capability enables advanced perception functions such as object classification, free-space detection, and scene
reconstruction. With proven robustness in adverse weather, low light, and complex environments, imaging radar is emerging as a cornerstone technology for autonomous driving, aerial drones, maritime navigation, robotics, space, and defence systems.
The report identifies more than 22,200 patent applications, grouped into over 10,600 patent families, including 2,800 core inventions of high relevance to imaging radar for autonomous systems. From 2015 to 2024, annual patent publications increased by 1,100% (CAGR 32%),
underscoring the rapid acceleration of innovation in this domain.
Imaging radar patenting has surged as the technology evolves from a complementary sensor toward a central perception modality in autonomy. The US and China together account for more than half of global filings, while Europe retains a strong presence through Tier-1s such as Bosch, ZF, and Valeo. IP leaders including Intel-Mobileye, Bosch, GM, Alphabet-Waymo, Huawei-Yinwang, and Magna maintain diversified patent portfolios spanning hardware, software, and sensor fusion, while specialized innovators such as Arbe Robotics, Uhnder, Aptiv, and Metawave are building strong positions in 4D imaging radar and point cloud processing.
The report provides detailed IP profiles of major players and a comprehensive classification of all patent assignees: from automakers and Tier-1s to ADAS specialists, electronics firms, academia, and defense. It highlights both established IP leaders and emerging new entrants in the patent landscape, offering a clear picture of how innovation and competition are distributed across the ecosystem.
This report equips executives, R&D teams, and IP professionals with the tools to: