Drone Sensor Market Size, Forecast Report

Name: Drone Sensor Market Size, Forecast Report | Industry Analysis 2030
Creator: Mordor Intelligence
License: https://www.mordorintelligence.com/privacy-policy

Drone Sensor Market Size and Share

Market Overview

Study Period	2019 - 2030
Market Size (2025)	USD 1.67 Billion
Market Size (2030)	USD 2.85 Billion
Growth Rate (2025 - 2030)	11.28% CAGR
Fastest Growing Market	Asia Pacific
Largest Market	North America
Market Concentration	Medium
Major Players *Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order Image © Mordor Intelligence. Reuse requires attribution under CC BY 4.0.

Drone Sensor Market (2025 - 2030) — Image © Mordor Intelligence. Reuse requires attribution under CC BY 4.0.

Drone Sensor Market Analysis by Mordor Intelligence

The drone sensor market stood at USD 1.67 billion in 2025 and is forecasted to reach USD 2.85 billion by 2030, translating into an 11.28% CAGR. Near-term demand was propelled by mandatory Remote ID adoption, precision agriculture requirements, and continuous platform miniaturization that improved size, weight, and power (SWaP) metrics.^{[1]Source: Federal Aviation Administration, “Remote Identification of Unmanned Aircraft,” faa.gov} Defense allocations and commercial investment in autonomous flight continued to anchor procurement budgets. Regulatory clarity around BVLOS operations supported uptake, while multispectral imaging expanded farm-level analytics, lifting sensors from optional payloads to essential avionics. Vendors responded by embedding edge-AI co-processors that processed data onboard, trimming latency and bandwidth needs. Consolidation among MEMS suppliers, coupled with emerging LiDAR specialists, signaled a shift toward vertically integrated, sensor-fusion-ready modules.

Key Report Takeaways

By sensor type, inertial sensors led the drone sensor market with 32.20% of the share in 2024, while LiDAR sensors are projected to grow at a 12.90% CAGR through 2030.
By platform type, VTOL configurations accounted for 58.41% of the drone sensor market share in 2024, and hybrid platforms are expected to expand at a 14.45% CAGR to 2030.
By application, navigation systems held 35.65% of the drone sensor market size in 2024, whereas collision avoidance solutions are advancing at a 13.45% CAGR over the forecast horizon.
By end-user industry, defense and security captured 31.45% drone sensor market share in 2024, while logistics and warehousing is projected to rise at a 14.20% CAGR through 2030.
By geography, North America commanded 37.80% of the drone sensor market share in 2024, and Asia-Pacific is forecast to post a 12.10% CAGR through 2030.

Global Drone Sensor Market Trends and Insights

Drivers Impact Analysis

Driver	(~) % Impact on CAGR Forecast	Geographic Relevance	Impact Timeline
Rising autonomy-ready sensor-fusion demand	+2.8%	North America, Europe	Medium term (2-4 years)
Rapid miniaturisation and SWaP optimisation	+2.1%	Asia-Pacific manufacturing hubs	Short term (≤ 2 years)
Mandatory Remote-ID compliance deadlines	+1.9%	North America, Europe	Short term (≤ 2 years)
Precision-agriculture push for multispectral sensing	+1.7%	Global farming regions	Medium term (2-4 years)
Energy-efficient edge-AI co-processor integration	+1.4%	North America, Asia-Pacific	Long term (≥ 4 years)
Commercial roll-out of mm-wave imaging radar	+1.2%	North America, Europe	Medium term (2-4 years)

Source: Mordor Intelligence

Rising Autonomy-Ready Sensor-Fusion Demand

Autonomous flight requires coordinated input from inertial, visual, and ranging sensors to maintain accuracy in GPS-denied spaces. Multi-sensor fusion cuts navigation error rates by up to 67% relative to single-sensor baselines, improving BVLOS reliability.^{[2]Source: Nicolae Niculescu, “Multi-Sensor Navigation in GPS-Denied Environments,” mdpi.com} Drone makers, therefore, favored pre-validated sensor suites that bundled IMUs, cameras, and LiDAR to shorten development cycles. Commercial operators also adopted redundancy strategies that met civil aviation safety expectations, reinforcing premium demand for fusion-ready modules.

Rapid Miniaturisation and SWaP Optimisation

MEMS IMUs reached tactical-grade performance inside 3 mm × 3 mm packages, enabling integration into nano-drones under 10 g. Advanced packaging, including 3D chip stacking, reduced component counts, and power draw. The resulting 10-fold efficiency gains prolonged flight endurance without increasing battery mass. Manufacturers incorporated novel heat-dissipation materials to offset thermal density, preserving sensor accuracy in compact frames.

Mandatory Remote-ID Compliance Deadlines

The United States enforced Remote ID broadcasting from 2024, affecting more than 865,000 registered drones and spurring immediate retrofits or replacement purchases. Compliance modules transmitted identification, position, and emergency status, adding USD 50–300 per platform. Parallel rule-making in Europe signaled wider adoption, anchoring a multiyear replacement cycle for legacy fleets.^{[3]Source: Federal Aviation Administration, “Remote ID Final Rule,” federalregister.gov}

Precision-Agriculture Push for Multispectral Sensing

Multispectral cameras provided 6 cm ground resolution from 1.5 km altitude, allowing farmers to calculate vegetation indices such as NDVI in real time. Field trials reported fertilizer and pesticide savings of up to 30%, lifting return on investment for sensor-equipped UAVs. Integration with onboard AI processors delivered in-flight analytics, speeding responses to crop stress events.

Restraints Impact Analysis

Restraint	(~) % Impact on CAGR Forecast	Geographic Relevance	Impact Timeline
High thermal drift in MEMS IMUs	-1.8%	Global	Short term (≤ 2 years)
Rare-earth magnetics supply bottlenecks	-1.5%	North America, Europe	Medium term (2-4 years)
Spectrum-sharing regulations for 60 GHz radar	-1.2%	North America, Europe	Medium term (2-4 years)
Short life-cycles due to interface obsolescence	-0.9%	Global	Long term (≥ 4 years)

Source: Mordor Intelligence

High Thermal Drift in MEMS IMUs

Temperature swings pushed drift coefficients to 7 µg/°C in standard accelerometers, forcing complex compensation that raised system cost and power draw. Dual closed-loop control and on-chip heaters improved stability but added weight and design overhead. Long-duration missions remained sensitive to cumulative bias errors, limiting MEMS adoption in high-precision surveying.

Rare-Earth Magnetics Supply Bottlenecks

Sensors that relied on high-performance magnets faced risk from China’s 80% share of global rare-earth processing capacity. Export restrictions on gallium and germanium threatened availability for motor and actuator assemblies. Defense programs pursuing NDAA compliance accelerated domestic sourcing initiatives, increasing costs during transition.

Segment Analysis

By Sensor Type: Inertial Sensors Lead Despite LiDAR Acceleration

In 2024, inertial sensors accounted for 32.20% of the drone sensor market share, owing to their indispensable role in stabilization and navigation across every airframe. Advanced IMUs incorporated bias correction and thermal calibration, sustaining reliability in variable climates. Despite price compression, the segment maintained steady value because each new platform still required multiple inertial nodes. LiDAR units trailed in volume but posted a 12.90% CAGR, reflecting adoption in 3D mapping, obstacle avoidance, and terrain-following tasks.

Accuracy improvements and falling component prices widened LiDAR’s addressable market into mid-tier commercial fleets. Single-photon and flash architectures offered centimeter-level resolution at longer ranges, making them viable for corridor inspection and high-density urban missions. Image sensors served aerial photography and security surveillance. In contrast, barometric pressure sensors provided redundancy for altitude hold functions. Emerging gas-analysis payloads entered environmental monitoring niches, though their contribution to the drone sensor market remained small.

Drone Sensor Market Share by Sensor Type — Image © Mordor Intelligence. Reuse requires attribution under CC BY 4.0.

By Platform Type: VTOL Dominance Challenged by Hybrid Innovation

VTOL designs held 58.41% of 2024 revenue, reflecting immediate take-off capability and hover stability that simplified sensor alignment and payload swapping. Multi-rotor airframes also support precise waypoint missions essential for infrastructure inspection and cinematic work. Fixed-wing aircraft retained relevance for long-range mapping where endurance trumped agility, but their share plateaued as urban use cases multiplied.

Hybrid tilt-rotor concepts recorded a 14.45% CAGR by combining VTOL convenience with aerodynamic cruise efficiency. These platforms presented complex hand-off regimes between rotors and wings, demanding sophisticated flight-control sensors. Vendors embedded redundant IMUs, magnetometers, and high-rate barometers to manage transition phases. Sensor makers, therefore, positioned integrated packages calibrated for dynamic mounting orientations.

By Application: Navigation Leads While Collision Avoidance Accelerates

Navigation systems represented 35.65% of 2024 spending, as every autonomous platform required robust position and attitude information. Sensor fusion engines combined GNSS, inertial, and optical flow data to maintain centimeter-level accuracy in urban canyons. Growth in regulatory approvals for BVLOS cargo flights reinforced demand for high-integrity navigation stacks inside the drone sensor market.

Collision avoidance, while smaller, expanded at 13.45% CAGR on the back of safety mandates that obliged real-time obstacle detection. Compact LiDAR, stereo cameras, and mm-wave radar converged into lightweight pods that detect obstacles within 25 m during 20 m/s transit. Mapping and surveying continued to exploit high-resolution optical and LiDAR combinations for digital-twin generation. Environmental monitoring adopted particulate and gas sensors for wildfire and air-quality surveillance, diversifying revenue channels.

Drone Sensor Market Share by Application — Image © Mordor Intelligence. Reuse requires attribution under CC BY 4.0.

By End-User Industry: Defense Leadership Faces Logistics Challenge

Defense and security commanded a 31.45% share in 2024, leveraging protected budgets and mission-critical performance needs that justified premium sensor packages. Military requirements for GPS-denied navigation and hardened electronics created high barriers to entry, favoring suppliers with ITAR and NDAA credentials. Systems such as Ouster’s OS1 passed Blue UAS vetting, unlocking production contracts.

Logistics and warehousing exhibited the fastest expansion at 14.20% CAGR, driven by e-commerce providers trialing autonomous stock counts and last-mile deliveries. Material-handling drones demanded accurate indoor positioning using LiDAR and optical flow rather than GNSS, opening opportunities for specialized sensor vendors. Agriculture and forestry sustained the uptake of multispectral imaging for yield optimization, while energy utilities applied thermal sensors for remote line inspections.

Geography Analysis

North America generated 37.80% of 2024 revenue, reflecting early regulatory clarity and strong defense procurement. The Federal Aviation Administration’s rule-making provided certainty that guided investment in Remote ID-ready avionics. The United States also prioritized domestic sourcing, encouraging MEMS foundries in Arizona and Texas to scale sensor production under secure-supply programs.

Europe registered steady adoption as EASA progressed toward harmonized BVLOS standards. Germany and France deployed drones for renewable-energy inspections, while the United Kingdom focused on maritime border surveillance. Platform makers leveraged regional LiDAR specialists to meet GDPR and cybersecurity requirements for data handling.

Asia-Pacific outpaced all regions with a 12.10% CAGR, supported by China’s manufacturing ecosystem and rising enterprise use in Japan, South Korea, and India. Chinese OEMs shipped high-volume, low-cost sensor sets, but geopolitical tensions accelerated diversification into Southeast Asia and Australia. India’s agri-drone subsidies further widened adoption, with domestic startups pairing multispectral cameras and AI chips to boost crop yields. Emerging markets in South America and Africa remained nascent but demonstrated high potential for infrastructure monitoring once regulatory paths mature.

Drone Sensor Market Growth Rate by Region — Image © Mordor Intelligence. Reuse requires attribution under CC BY 4.0.

Competitive Landscape

The drone sensor market displayed moderate concentration with established MEMS giants and specialized newcomers sharing growth. Bosch Sensortec, Sony Semiconductor Solutions, and InvenSense capitalized on automotive and consumer volumes to fund aerospace-grade iterations. Niche players like Ouster and LeddarTech targeted high-resolution LiDAR, while Trimble leveraged GNSS heritage to deliver integrated positioning modules.

Mergers and acquisitions accelerated capability expansion. VIAVI Solutions completed a USD 150 million purchase of Inertial Labs, adding navigation and LiDAR payloads for defense clients. Deere’s acquisition of Sentera extended precision-agriculture offerings with proprietary multispectral cameras. Supply-chain resiliency surfaced as a differentiator, with North American and European primes favoring suppliers able to prove non-Chinese rare-earth content.

Technology roadmaps emphasized sensor-fusion stacks bundled with edge-AI processing to offload cloud dependence. Vendors competed on SWaP metrics, promoting integrated camera-IMU-LiDAR boards that saved up to 35 g compared to discrete assemblies. Strategic partnerships, including Sony’s tie-up with Swift Navigation for centimeter-level GNSS, illustrated the move toward turnkey positioning ecosystems.

Drone Sensor Industry Leaders

InvenSense, Inc.
TE Connectivity Corporation
Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
Ouster, Inc.
Bosch Sensortec GmbH (Robert Bosch GmbH)
*Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order

Drone Sensor Market Concentration — Image © Mordor Intelligence. Reuse requires attribution under CC BY 4.0.

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Recent Industry Developments

June 2025: Ouster received the US Department of Defense approval for its OS1 digital LiDAR sensor under the Blue UAS framework, enabling integration into military drone programs.
February 2025: Ondas Holdings partnered with Volatus Aerospace to deploy LiDAR-equipped Optimus drones for border surveillance missions.
July 2024: Inertial Labs and ideaForge combined RESEPI LiDAR with UAV platforms for high-density mapping.

Table of Contents for Drone Sensor Industry Report

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 Study Assumptions and Market Definition
1.2 Scope of the Study

2. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

4. MARKET LANDSCAPE

4.1 Market Overview
4.2 Market Drivers
- 4.2.1 Rising autonomy-ready sensor-fusion demand
- 4.2.2 Rapid miniaturisation and SWaP optimisation
- 4.2.3 Mandatory Remote-ID compliance deadlines
- 4.2.4 Precision-agriculture push for multispectral sensing
- 4.2.5 Energy-efficient edge-AI co-processor integration
- 4.2.6 Commercial roll-out of mm-wave imaging radar
4.3 Market Restraints
- 4.3.1 High thermal drift in MEMS IMUs
- 4.3.2 Rare-earth magnetics supply bottlenecks
- 4.3.3 Spectrum-sharing regulations for 60 GHz radar
- 4.3.4 Short life-cycles due to rapid sensor-interface obsolescence
4.4 Value Chain Analysis
4.5 Technological Outlook
4.6 Regulatory Landscape
4.7 Porter’s Five Forces Analysis
- 4.7.1 Bargaining Power of Suppliers
- 4.7.2 Bargaining Power of Buyers
- 4.7.3 Threat of New Entrants
- 4.7.4 Threat of Substitutes
- 4.7.5 Intensity of Rivalry

5. MARKET SIZE AND GROWTH FORECASTS (VALUE)

5.1 By Sensor Type
- 5.1.1 Inertial Sensors (IMU, Gyro, Accelerometer)
- 5.1.2 Image Sensors
- 5.1.3 Speed and Distance Sensors
- 5.1.4 Position Sensors
- 5.1.5 Pressure and Differential Barometric Sensors
- 5.1.6 Altimeter
- 5.1.7 Flow
- 5.1.8 LiDAR Sensors
- 5.1.9 Others
5.2 By Platform Type
- 5.2.1 Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL)
- 5.2.2 Fixed-wing
- 5.2.3 Hybrid
5.3 By Application
- 5.3.1 Navigation and Positioning
- 5.3.2 Collision Avoidance
- 5.3.3 Aerial Mapping and Surveying
- 5.3.4 Environmental and Atmospheric Monitoring
- 5.3.5 Payload Handling and Delivery Assistance
- 5.3.6 Others (Cinematography, Inspection)
5.4 By End-user Industry
- 5.4.1 Defense and Security
- 5.4.2 Agriculture and Forestry
- 5.4.3 Energy and Utilities
- 5.4.4 Construction and Mining
- 5.4.5 Consumer
- 5.4.6 Logistics and Warehousing
- 5.4.7 Environmental Research and Conservation
- 5.4.8 Media and Entertainment
- 5.4.9 Others
5.5 By Geography
- 5.5.1 North America
- 5.5.1.1 United States
- 5.5.1.2 Canada
- 5.5.1.3 Mexico
- 5.5.2 Europe
- 5.5.2.1 Germany
- 5.5.2.2 United Kingdom
- 5.5.2.3 France
- 5.5.2.4 Russia
- 5.5.2.5 Rest of Europe
- 5.5.3 Asia-Pacific
- 5.5.3.1 China
- 5.5.3.2 Japan
- 5.5.3.3 India
- 5.5.3.4 South Korea
- 5.5.3.5 Australia
- 5.5.3.6 Rest of Asia-Pacific
- 5.5.4 South America
- 5.5.4.1 Brazil
- 5.5.4.2 Rest of South America
- 5.5.5 Middle East and Africa
- 5.5.5.1 Middle East
- 5.5.5.1.1 United Arab Emirates
- 5.5.5.1.2 Saudi Arabia
- 5.5.5.1.3 Turkey
- 5.5.5.1.4 Rest of Middle East
- 5.5.5.2 Africa
- 5.5.5.2.1 South Africa
- 5.5.5.2.2 Rest of Africa

6. COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

6.1 Market Concentration
6.2 Strategic Moves
6.3 Market Share Analysis
6.4 Company Profiles (includes Global-level Overview, Market-level Overview, Core Segments, Financials as available, Strategic Information, Market Rank/Share, Products and Services, Recent Developments)
- 6.4.1 Bosch Sensortec GmbH (Robert Bosch GmbH)
- 6.4.2 Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
- 6.4.3 TE Connectivity Corporation
- 6.4.4 InvenSense (TDK Corporation)
- 6.4.5 Ouster, Inc.
- 6.4.6 Trimble Inc.
- 6.4.7 Teledyne Technologies Incorporated
- 6.4.8 Sparton Corporation
- 6.4.9 KVH Industries, Inc.
- 6.4.10 Garmin Ltd.
- 6.4.11 u-blox AG
- 6.4.12 ams-OSRAM AG
- 6.4.13 OMNIVISION
- 6.4.14 LeddarTech Holdings Inc.
- 6.4.15 Infineon Technologies AG
- 6.4.16 Septentrio N.V.

7. MARKET OPPORTUNITIES AND FUTURE OUTLOOK

7.1 White-space and Unmet-need Assessment

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Global Drone Sensor Market Report Scope

A drone sensor refers to a system capable of settling changes in physical or electrical variations and other quantities. This sensor can also concede this variation to the drone and will act accordingly to ensure its proper functioning.

The drone sensor market is segmented based on type, application, and geography. By type, the market is segmented into inertial sensors, image sensors, speed, distance, position sensors, and others. The other sensor types include pressure sensors, ultrasonic sensors, and light sensors. By application, the market is segmented into navigation, data acquisition, collision detection, air pressure measurement, and others. The other application includes motion detection and power monitoring. The report also covers the market sizes and forecasts for the drone sensor market in major countries across different regions. For each segment, the market size is provided in terms of value (USD).

By Sensor Type	Inertial Sensors (IMU, Gyro, Accelerometer)
	Image Sensors
	Speed and Distance Sensors
	Position Sensors
	Pressure and Differential Barometric Sensors
	Altimeter
	Flow
	LiDAR Sensors
	Others
By Platform Type	Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL)
	Fixed-wing
	Hybrid
By Application	Navigation and Positioning
	Collision Avoidance
	Aerial Mapping and Surveying
	Environmental and Atmospheric Monitoring
	Payload Handling and Delivery Assistance
	Others (Cinematography, Inspection)
By End-user Industry	Defense and Security
	Agriculture and Forestry
	Energy and Utilities
	Construction and Mining
	Consumer
	Logistics and Warehousing
	Environmental Research and Conservation
	Media and Entertainment
	Others

By Geography	North America	United States
		Canada
		Mexico

	Europe	Germany
		United Kingdom
		France
		Russia
		Rest of Europe

	Asia-Pacific	China
		Japan
		India
		South Korea
		Australia
		Rest of Asia-Pacific

	South America	Brazil
		Rest of South America

	Middle East and Africa	Middle East	United Arab Emirates
			Saudi Arabia
			Turkey
			Rest of Middle East

		Africa	South Africa
			Rest of Africa

By Sensor Type

Inertial Sensors (IMU, Gyro, Accelerometer)

Image Sensors

Speed and Distance Sensors

Position Sensors

Pressure and Differential Barometric Sensors

Altimeter

Flow

LiDAR Sensors

Others

By Platform Type

Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL)

Fixed-wing

Hybrid

By Application

Navigation and Positioning

Collision Avoidance

Aerial Mapping and Surveying

Environmental and Atmospheric Monitoring

Payload Handling and Delivery Assistance

Others (Cinematography, Inspection)

By End-user Industry

Defense and Security

Agriculture and Forestry

Energy and Utilities

Construction and Mining

Consumer

Logistics and Warehousing

Environmental Research and Conservation

Media and Entertainment

Others

By Geography

North America	United States
	Canada
	Mexico
Europe	Germany
	United Kingdom
	France
	Russia
	Rest of Europe
Asia-Pacific	China
	Japan
	India
	South Korea
	Australia
	Rest of Asia-Pacific
South America	Brazil
	Rest of South America

Middle East and Africa	Middle East	United Arab Emirates
		Saudi Arabia
		Turkey
		Rest of Middle East

	Africa	South Africa
		Rest of Africa

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Key Questions Answered in the Report

What was the drone sensor market size in 2025 and where is it headed by 2030?

The drone sensor market reached USD 1.67 billion in 2025 and is projected to grow to USD 2.85 billion by 2030, reflecting an 11.28% CAGR.

Which sensor type presently dominates the drone sensor market?

Inertial measurement units led with 32.20% market share in 2024 because every drone relies on gyroscopes and accelerometers for stable flight.

Why are hybrid airframes gaining traction?

Hybrid tilt-rotor designs combine VTOL convenience with fixed-wing efficiency, enabling longer missions and posting a 14.45% CAGR that outpaces other platform types.

Which region is expanding the fastest in the drone sensor market?

Asia-Pacific is forecasted to record a 12.10% CAGR through 2030, supported by large-scale manufacturing in China and rising commercial use in Japan, India, and South Korea.

How do Remote ID regulations influence sensor demand?

Mandatory broadcasting rules in the United States and forthcoming European standards compel fleet owners to retrofit or replace drones with compliant sensor modules, adding USD 50–300 per unit and driving short-term sales.

What challenges arise from rare-earth dependency in sensor producti

China processes over 80% of rare-earth materials, and export restrictions pose supply risks, prompting North American and European buyers to seek alternative sources or redesign sensors to reduce magnet dependence.