Inertial Measurement Unit Market Report 2026

The inertial measurement unit market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $24.81 billion in 2025 to $26.7 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.6%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to rise in adoption of gyroscopes, accelerometers, and magnetometers, increasing use in aerospace and defense, expansion in automotive and consumer electronics, growing use in mobile mapping and navigation, increasing integration with autonomous systems.

The inertial measurement unit market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $35.69 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.5%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increase in high-precision IMU deployment, rising adoption in tactical and navigation grade applications, expansion of MEMS and ring laser gyroscope integration, growth in marine and space grade IMUs, increase in multi-sensor data fusion technologies. Major trends in the forecast period include integration of AI-enabled imus, adoption of IoT-connected sensor systems, implementation of smart navigation and stabilization systems, deployment of predictive analytics in imus, expansion of multi-axis measurement solutions.

The rise in new smartphone sales and shipment growth is driving the inertial measurement unit (IMU) market. IMUs are essential components in smartphones, enabling a variety of applications such as navigation, gaming, fitness, and more. Features like step counting, gesture recognition, and image stabilization are among the applications of IMUs that are gaining popularity with consumers. For instance, in December 2023, Demandsage, a US-based non-government organization, projected that the global smartphone user count will reach 7.1 billion in 2024 and increase to 7.7 billion by 2027. Furthermore, the smartphone penetration rate in the United States is expected to rise to 82.20% in 2023, up from 76.50% in 2022. Therefore, the rapid increase in new smartphone sales and shipments is anticipated to enhance the growth of the inertial measurement unit market.

Major companies operating in the inertial measurement unit market are focusing on advancing technology through innovations such as artificial intelligence-enabled automotive IMUs to enhance navigation accuracy, vehicle stability, and autonomous driving performance in next-generation vehicles. An artificial intelligence-enabled IMU combines tri-axial accelerometers and gyroscopes with built-in artificial intelligence algorithms that support real-time sensor fusion, drift correction, and adaptive calibration for improved motion tracking and orientation detection. For example, in November 2023, STMicroelectronics, a Switzerland-based semiconductor company, introduced an artificial intelligence-enabled automotive inertial measurement unit engineered for always-aware applications at temperatures up to 125 °C. The solution integrates a six-degree-of-freedom accelerometer and gyroscope with an embedded machine learning core, delivering continuous self-calibration, reduced power consumption, and extended temperature resistance. It facilitates sensor fusion for advanced driver-assistance systems, vehicle dynamics, and in-cabin monitoring, enhancing functional safety and overall driving intelligence.

In December 2024, VIAVI Solutions Inc., a US-based provider of network testing, monitoring, and assurance solutions, as well as light-management technologies, acquired Inertial Labs, Inc. for an undisclosed amount. This acquisition strengthens the company’s position in the sensing and navigation market, expands its capabilities in aerospace, defense, and industrial applications, and broadens its technology portfolio in high-precision motion and positioning systems. Inertial Labs Inc. is a US-based provider of inertial measurement units (IMUs), inertial navigation systems (INS), assured position, navigation and timing (APNT), GNSS tracking, LiDAR scanning, and alternative navigation solutions.

Major companies operating in the inertial measurement unit market are Bosch Sensortec GmbH, Thales Group, Sensonor AS, Analog Devices Inc., Gladiator Technologies, Honeywell Aerospace Inc., Northrop Grumman Corporation, Safran SA, General Electric Company, Kearfott Corporation, KVH Industries Inc., Collins Aerospace Systems, Systron Donner Inertial Inc., Israel Aircraft Industries Ltd., L3Harris Technologies Inc., VectorNav Technologies Corp., SBG Systems, Beijing Navgnss Integration Co. Ltd., BeiJing StarNeto Technology Co. Ltd., MEMSIC Inc., Epson Europe Electronics GmbH, MicroStrain Inc., Xsens Technologies B.V., Memsense LLC, STMicroelectronics NV, ACEINNA Inc., NXP Semiconductors N.V., TDK Corporation.

Note that the outlook for this market is being affected by rapid changes in trade relations and tariffs globally. The report will be updated prior to delivery to reflect the latest status, including revised forecasts and quantified impact analysis. The report’s Recommendations and Conclusions sections will be updated to give strategies for entities dealing with the fast-moving international environment.

Tariffs have significantly affected the IMU market by increasing the costs of critical components such as accelerometers, gyroscopes, and magnetometers, causing higher production costs and supply chain delays. North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific are most impacted due to high import dependency. Manufacturers are mitigating these effects by diversifying suppliers, investing in local manufacturing, and innovating high-precision and multi-axis IMUs, which supports cost optimization and ensures regional supply resilience.

The inertial measurement unit market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides inertial measurement unit market statistics, including inertial measurement unit industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a inertial measurement unit market share, detailed inertial measurement unit market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the inertial measurement unit industry. This inertial measurement unit market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.

An Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) is a device designed to measure and report an object's specific gravity and angular rate when attached to it. It consists of three key components: gyroscopes for measuring angular rate, accelerometers for gauging specific force or acceleration, and magnetometers for assessing the magnetic field in the vicinity of the system. IMUs find applications in various industries, including aerospace, defense, automotive, consumer electronics, and others. Common uses for IMUs encompass control and stabilization, navigation and correction, measurement and testing, as well as mobile mapping.

The primary types of IMUs include accelerometers, gyroscopes, magnetometers, and other specialized components. Accelerometers are devices capable of detecting vibrations or accelerations of motion in a structure. They operate by compressing piezoelectric material in response to vibration or changes in motion (acceleration), generating an electrical charge proportional to the applied force. IMUs are categorized into various grades, including marine grade, navigation grade, tactical grade, space grade, and commercial grade. End-users of IMUs span industries such as aerospace and defense, consumer electronics, marine/naval, automotive, and other specialized sectors.North America was the largest region in the inertial measurement unit market in 2025, and it is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the inertial measurement unit market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the inertial measurement unit market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The inertial measurement unit market consists of sales of FOG (Fiber Optic Gyroscope), the RLG IMUs (Ring Laser Gyroscope), and lastly, IMU based on MEMS technology (Micro Electro-Mechanical Systems). Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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