Lidar

Silicon Metals Corp. announced preliminary 3D modeling results for its Ptarmigan Project, estimating 5 million cubic meters of surface quartzite material based on LiDAR and ground mapping. Samples from the ridges showed up to 99.99% SiO2 purity. Lab-scale processing is underway. The Ptarmigan quartzite density is approximately 2.6 tonnes per cubic meter. This estimate is conceptual, requiring further exploration to define a mineral resource compliant with NI 43-101. The company is focused on high-purity quartz exploration and development in Canada.

Huawei’s Richard Yu is challenging LiDAR skepticism with the new AITO M7, showcasing its ADS 4.0’s ability to navigate complex urban environments in Chongqing. The system utilizes a multi-sensor approach, including LiDAR, contrasting with Tesla’s camera-only strategy. Huawei claims the AITO M7 successfully navigated numerous challenges on the first attempt, attributing its capabilities to their intelligent driving technology and LiDAR. The debate revolves around the necessity of LiDAR for fully autonomous driving versus reliance on cameras. Widespread adoption depends on long-term performance and regulatory approval.

In 2025, Elon Musk advocated for AI, digital neural networks, and cameras as the optimal solution for autonomous driving, emphasizing that the world’s road systems are designed for visual perception. He views lidar as problematic for safety, while opposing voices from companies such as Huawei champion lidar technology for its safety benefits. The article highlights the limitations of lidar in terms of weather sensitivity and information density compared to high-resolution cameras.