Sensors, Haptics & Displays

This article evaluates some of the strengths and weaknesses of reflective and diffractive waveguides used in augmented reality (AR) optics for smart glasses.

Missed out on CES this year? Or did you attend but miss the chance to explore the sensor innovations on display? In this article, IDTechEx Principal Technology Analyst Dr Tess Skyrme outlines three important trends for the sensor market evident from our trip to Las Vegas this year.

This article describes the variety of optics required for XR (extended reality) devices. For AR glasses, this includes waveguides and other technologies such as birdbath combiners, whilst for VR headsets, solutions include pancake, Fresnel, and aspheric lenses. Across XR devices, different optics solutions are required based on the intended use case, with a variety of factors contributing to the suitability of an optics technology for a specific device. Factors include weight, optical efficiency, image quality, form factor, and cost.

Join IDTechEx Principal Technology Analyst Dr Tess Skyrme on Thursday 8th January for this 30-minute webinar, where she will overview three exciting sensor technology innovations: AI, Quantum, and Nanocarbons.

Drones have transitioned from experimental tools into essential infrastructure across agriculture, logistics, energy, security, and public-sector operations. According to the newly released IDTechEx report "Drones Market 2026-2036: Technologies, Markets, and Opportunities", the global drone market, including consumer, commercial, and defense platforms, is projected to grow from approximately US$69 billion in 2026 to US$147.8 billion by 2036, corresponding to a 7.9% CAGR.

IDTechEx forecasts that the global sensor market will reach $250B in annual revenue by 2036, as global mega-trends in AI, future mobility, wearables, edge computing, and automation drive renewed growth opportunities. Next generation sensor technology innovations in quantum sensors, ADAS sensors, image sensors, MEMS, photonic integrated circuits, and printed sensor markets will be key to realizing the highest growth opportunities over the next decade.

The sensitivity and unmatched performance of quantum technologies is allowing for great advancements across a number of major sectors, including sensors, computing, and communication. This article explores a few of the recent developments and applications within commercial sectors.

Functionality is at the heart of in-mold electronics - a technology concerned with creating seamlessly integrated electronic functions into hardware, particularly within automotive interiors. This article covers the latest innovations within IME and the role it can play in the automotive sector.

IDTechEx's Sensors report provides extensive analysis of the global sensor market, including 58 company profiles and insights collected from over 20 related sensor reports. Summarizing IDTechEx's extensive sensors report portfolio, this research contains over 35 sensor technology SWOT analyses, 24 technology readiness level roadmaps, material requirements and supplier information across future mobility, IoT, wearables, biomedical, edge computing, environmental sensing and more.

The market for remote battery monitoring is expected to continue to grow over the next decade, fueled by demand from mobility and energy storage system managers. This trend is tied to increasing interest in wireless battery management systems (wBMSs) to save on wiring costs and reduce battery pack complexity, though the majority of the market will continue to be made up of wired BMSs using gateways to convert to wireless communications protocols.