Development trends in the sensor technology: a new BCG matrix analysis as a potential tool of technology selection for a sensor suite

This paper presents a new variant of the Boston Consulting Group matrix analysis and applies it on sensor technologies. This classifies technologies in four classes on the basis of application growth rate of technology on one axis and competence available on the other. The quadrant, with high competence and increasing application growth rate, will be the most favored one and called star. The star technologies need application-oriented research with low risk, but they need money for design and development. A new sensor suite can select these technologies if the product development time available is roughly two to three years. The quadrant with low competence but high application growth rate is the question mark. The question mark technologies need intense R&D efforts, and they involve money and high to moderate risk. These technologies can be selected if product development time available is roughly more than three years. The technologies with low or falling application growth rate, but high competence available, are cash cows. These technologies are readily available (sometimes with production agencies), need absolutely no research, and a little bit of design or application orientation. In the cases where products are immediately needed, they have to be cheaper and do not need to last long technology wise; these can be selected. Finally, the quadrant with low competence and low application growth rate is called dogs, and such technologies can be left during consideration. Time and cost frames have also been well discussed. The role of development trends in prediction of technological evolution through a new BCG matrix is a new aspect introduced in this paper. As an example, this paper applies the above analysis in the area of night vision. This analysis can broadly guide the design of future sensor suites.