Editing Platoon (automobile) (section)

==Innovation==
[[File:Patenting in platooning 2010-2023.jpg|thumb|Research and patenting activities relating to platooning have grown rapidly since 2014, but patent publications have declined since 2020]]
Scientific research on platooning has gained momentum over the past decade, especially from 2018 onward. [[Patent]] activities related to platooning have been increasing too. Major automotive and technology companies, such as [[Toyota]], [[Volvo]], [[Baidu]], or [[Alphabet Inc.|Alphabet]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=poojaallawadhi |date=2023-11-24 |title=Who are the leading innovators in AV platooning for the automotive industry? |url=https://www.just-auto.com/data-insights/innovators-robotics-av-platooning-automotive/ |access-date=2025-02-10 |website=Just Auto |language=en-US}}</ref> are actively filing patents for various aspects of platooning, including V2V communication protocols, control systems and safety mechanisms. Between 2014 and 2023, the number of published patent families per year increased from less than 200 to over 1,000. However, patent families have declined over recent years, after having peaked at almost 1,400 in 2020.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.wipo.int/web-publications/wipo-technology-trends-future-of-transportation/en/5-emerging-technologies-in-transportation.html#h2-land-platooning |title=WIPO Technology Trends: Future of Transportation - 5 Emerging technologies in transportation |date=2025 |publisher=[[WIPO]] |language=en}}</ref>