Spotlight on sensors and actuators for wearables market

The total number of wearable end systems was 949 million units in 2022, and we forecast it will reach 1.2 billion units in 2028 with a 4% CAGR22-28 (by volume). In terms of sensors and actuators, this represents a global market of almost 4.17 billion units ($3.58 billion) in 2022, and the market is expected to grow to 6.77 billion units ($5.7 billion), with a ~8% CAGR22-28 (volume and revenue growth).

In this context, Yole Intelligence releases its brand-new Sensing & Actuating Report, Sensors & Actuators for Wearables 2023. With this report, the company, part of Yole Group, aims to provide a complete analysis of sensors & actuators for wearables markets and the underlying technologies.

Four main technology trends are expected. First, there are efforts to improve and combine signals from different sensors. For example, PPG signals are coupled with IMU s and ECG s to improve accuracy and the signal-to-noise ratio. Second, in order to integrate PPG modules in smaller systems, such as TWS or smart rings, improvements are being made to these modules to reduce the size and power consumption and increase the sensitivity.

Third, noninvasive technologies able to monitor glucose levels are in development to integrate them into smartwatches, hearables, or smart patches. In addition, some technologies could extend to detecting other molecules, such as ketone, lactate, and alcohol concentrations.

And finally, there is a growing penetration of MEMS technologies in consumer and medical hearables applications.

Sensors & actuators dedicated to wearables end systems face several challenges. They must have the lowest possible power consumption, a small footprint, high accuracy, and should integrate more and more intelligence at the sensor level, giving them extra functionalities.