Machine learning innovation among airport industry companies has dropped off in 

Research and innovation in machine learning in the airport equipment supply, product, and services sector has declined in the last year.

The most recent figures show that the number of related patent applications in the industry stood at 15 in the three months ending June – down from 22 over the same period in 2021.

Figures for patent grants related to followed a different pattern to filings – stagnating from four in the three months ending June 2021 to four in the same period in 2022.

The figures are compiled by GlobalData, which tracks patent filings and grants from official offices around the world. Using textual analysis, as well as official patent classifications, these patents are grouped into key thematic areas, and linked to key companies across various industries.

Machine learning is one of the key areas tracked by GlobalData. It has been identified as being a key disruptive force facing companies in the coming years, and is one of the areas that companies investing resources in now are expected to reap rewards from.

The figures also provide an insight into the largest innovators in the sector.

Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies was the top innovator in the airport equipment supply, product and services sector in the latest quarter. The company, which has its headquarters in the US, filed seven related patents in the three months ending June. That was up from one over the same period in 2021.

It was followed by the China-based China Southern Airlines with four patent applications, South Korea-based Samsung Heavy Industries (three applications), and the US-based Uber Technologies (three applications).