Latest news with #LightDetectionandRanging
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
AEVA vs. LAZR: Which LiDAR Stock Is the Better Bet Now?
Aeva Technologies AEVA and Luminar Technologies LAZR are two front-runners in the evolving LiDAR space, each aiming to capitalize on the demand for sensing systems in autonomous vehicles, industrial automation and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). Both companies have recently made strategic pivots and technological advances, drawing attention from investors looking to ride the next wave of transportation (Light Detection and Ranging) is a remote sensing method that uses light in the form of a pulsed laser and continuously scans the environment in front of a vehicle. It enables an accurate and high-precision estimate of the shape and size of objects in three-dimensional understanding of the surroundings. It is gaining popularity as a crucial technology for the safe and efficient operation of autonomous both firms operating in the same LiDAR vertical, their paths diverge in key areas such as commercialization timelines, customer wins, financial discipline, and capital market strategies. As LiDAR gains traction beyond self-driving into broader safety applications, comparing AEVA and LAZR now is timely. Both offer high-risk, high-reward potential, but the difference lies in their pace of execution and readiness to dive deep and closely compare the fundamentals of the two stocks to determine which one is a better investment now. Expanding Momentum and Industrial Diversification: Aeva Technologies has seen a surge in activity throughout 2025, fueled by developments beyond the core automotive market. The company's 4D LiDAR, built on Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) technology, provides real-time velocity and depth data — setting it apart from traditional time-of-flight (ToF) systems. This technological edge is helping AEVA broaden its reach into industrial applications, where precision and reliability are critical, and opens doors to a wider array of end Wins With Tier-One Players: AEVA's partnership pipeline is robust. A Fortune 500 tech company recently committed up to $50 million — $32.5 million in equity and $17.5 million in manufacturing support — and is expected to act as AEVA's Tier 2 supplier for a top-10 global passenger OEM. The program could scale to multiple models, positioning Aeva Technologies to lock in long-term supply agreements. Management also highlighted a signed letter of intent from that OEM, signaling a potential production award as early as late Expansion and Capacity Building: Unlike many LiDAR players that are heavily reliant on automotive production ramps, AEVA is making a smart push into high-margin industrial sectors. It has secured over 1,000 orders for its Eve 1 precision sensor and is working with customers like SICK AG and LMI Technologies, which serve a combined addressable market of roughly 2 million units annually. Aeva Technologies is targeting 100,000 units in annual production capacity by the end of 2025. Strategic Liquidity Moves and Deleveraging: Luminar has taken deliberate steps to reinforce its balance sheet. Through repurchasing $50 million of its 2026 convertible notes using a mix of cash and equity, and securing a $200 million capital facility from institutional investors, Luminar has improved its liquidity runway through at least the end of 2026. With roughly $400 million in total liquidity and a reduced debt load of $135 million, Luminar is better positioned to fund the transition to its new Halo platform without relying on near-term revenue Platform Offers a Streamlined Path Forward: The company's pivot to a single, unified LiDAR system — Halo — is gaining momentum. OEMs are migrating away from Luminar's legacy Iris system, opting instead for the Halo architecture, which promises quicker deployment, lower development costs, and greater commercial scalability. Prototypes are already in customer hands, with a formal launch expected in late 2026 or early 2027. This shift could position Luminar as a volume-ready LiDAR supplier capable of capturing significant market share in ADAS and safety Industrial and Automotive Partnerships: Luminar's agreements extend beyond passenger vehicles. Its LiDAR will be featured in Caterpillar's off-highway trucks, targeting quarry and aggregate operations, offering validation in demanding environments. Automotive-wise, it's already live on the Volvo EX90 and will soon be featured on the Volvo ES90, representing the only high-performance LiDAR system standard on global production vehicles. Aeva Technologies has climbed nearly 240% year to date, largely fueled by new industrial and OEM partnership announcements. The rapid upswing reflects growing market optimism, though it raises questions about how much near-term success is already priced in. On the other hand, LAZR is down around 31% this year, weighed by commercialization delays and cash flow concerns. Still, if it can deliver on its Halo roadmap, the current valuation could present an attractive opportunity. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Valuation is where the contrast becomes stark. AEVA currently trades at a forward sales multiple of approximately 31.6, signaling aggressive investor expectations for future growth. LAZR, on the other hand, trades at just 1.6X forward sales, offering a more grounded valuation despite its early production wins and robust capital runway. This gap suggests that AEVA's stock price may already be baking in a lot of future success, while LAZR may present a value opportunity. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Both companies are still in the red but are showing signs of improvement. Analysts forecast AEVA's EPS to improve by 21.7% in 2025 and another 12.2% in 2026, driven by early industrial revenues and potential automotive ramp-ups. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Luminar, however, is expected to post a stronger recovery with a 53.6% EPS improvement in 2025, followed by 7.5% in 2026. These forecasts imply that LAZR could deliver stronger bottom-line leverage as revenues scale from existing programs. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research AEVA and LAZR are both navigating the early stages of LiDAR commercialization, each with unique strengths. AEVA stands out with fresh momentum, strategic wins across verticals, and rapid industrial expansion. However, its stretched valuation and continued cash burn temper near-term upside. LAZR, on the other hand, offers better valuation support and a clearer path toward high-volume deployment through its streamlined Halo platform and strong balance stocks currently carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), reflecting optimistic earnings outlooks and improving investor sentiment. In the end, the choice comes down to investor preference: AEVA for early-stage hypergrowth and vertical diversification, or LAZR for strategic discipline and deeper institutional backing. Either way, both are well worth investing in the LiDAR race. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Luminar Technologies, Inc. (LAZR) : Free Stock Analysis Report Aeva Technologies, Inc. (AEVA) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research
New Straits Times
6 days ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Sarawak needs 260,000 metric tonnes of rice by 2030 to meet domestic demand
KUCHING: Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom said the state will need to produce around 260,000 metric tonnes of rice to meet domestic demand by 2030. By that year, the state's population is projected to reach about 3.2 million people, he said. "Therefore, my ministry, together with relevant agencies, is actively identifying suitable state land to be developed specifically for padi cultivation, to meet domestic demand," he said during his winding-up speech at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly today. He said that as of this month, a total of 11,700ha has been identified for large-scale padi cultivation in the Kuching, Serian, Sri Aman, Kapit and Limbang divisions. He said the state Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) is preparing documents to conduct a Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) survey to obtain topographic data. The survey is expected to be completed by the fourth quarter of 2025. Dr Rundi said his ministry will continue identifying additional suitable state land, with the goal of expanding dedicated padi cultivation areas to at least 3,300ha by the end of 2025. He said his ministry is also actively exploring the development of infrastructure on native customary rights (NCR) land to support the expansion of paddy cultivation areas. He said that since the beginning of this year, the ministry has identified 28 potential NCR land sites across Sarawak, covering a total area of 9,700ha. However, he said developing NCR land requires careful negotiation and strong community involvement, adding that such engagement is crucial to ensure development moves forward with the full consent and collaboration of landowners. "To date, we have successfully conducted 24 dialogues and outreach sessions involving approximately 1,200 participants across Sarawak. "Besides intensifying expansion through large-scale paddy cultivation, my ministry also actively promotes small-scale padi cultivation, especially within DID's existing paddy schemes. "According to recent agricultural statistics, the number of registered padifarmers has dropped significantly from approximately 72,800 in 2022 to 48,000 in 2024," he said, urging farmers in Sarawak to actively participate in padi cultivation. He also called on the younger generation in Sarawak to embrace modern and efficient farming methods for padi production. He said his ministry will continue to introduce high-yielding varieties, promote the adoption of modern farming techniques, and help farmers implement best practices in agriculture, including the use of new technologies and sustainable farming methods. "By growing our own rice, we will fulfil our own consumption needs," he said, noting that self-reliance is crucial in safeguarding family food security and ensuring that future generations have sufficient, fresh and quality rice to eat. He said Sarawak imported around 192,000 metric tonnes of rice valued at RM511 million last year.
The Hindu
19-05-2025
- Science
- The Hindu
T.N. Archaeology Department begins survey for excavation in Nagapattinam
The Tamil Nadu Archaeology Department is carrying out an exploration in the port town of Nagapattinam, ahead of launching an excavation to look for remains of the famed Buddhist monastery, Chudamani Vihara, believed to have been built during the reign of Rajaraja Chola I (985-1014 CE). Over the past few days, the Department has been conducting a survey using Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR), a remote sensing method, at the District Court Complex in Nagapattinam, where the monastery is believed to have existed. A drone was deployed to carry out the survey to assess and identify the location for taking up systematic archaeological excavation. The exploration was conducted by a team of officials of the Department of Archaeology led by R. Sivanantham, Joint Director of Archaeology, and K. Vasanthakumar, Archaeological Officer, along with G. Muthusankar, Head of GIS Projects, Department of Geospatial Monitoring and Information Technology, French Institute of Pondicherry. 'A proposal would be drawn up based on the survey, and the actual excavation will commence after obtaining the licence from the Central Advisory Board on Archaeology,' sources in the Department told The Hindu. The Tamil Nadu government, in its Budget 2025-26, had announced that archaeological excavations would be undertaken at eight locations, including Keezhadi, Telunganur in Salem, Vellalur in Coimbatore, Adichanur in Kallakurichi, Manikollai in Cuddalore, Karivalamvanthanallur in Tenkasi, Pattanamarudur in Thoothukudi, and Nagapattinam. Nagapattinam is believed to have been a citadel of Buddhism in South India. The nearby ancient port city of Poompuhar, also known as Kaveripoompattinam, was the capital of the early Cholas. The State government has also announced plans to take up deep-sea excavations between Poompuhar and Nagapattinam this year. The District Court complex in Nagapattinam now houses the District Munsif Court and the District Combined Court buildings, believed to be more than a century old. The buildings were recently renovated by the Building Centre and Conservation Division of the Public Works Department.
Indian Express
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Pakistan deployed attack and surveillance drones hidden in swarms of basic drones
Swarms of poor quality, basic drones crowding Indian skies, camouflaging a handful of surveillance and attack drones within them. This was Pakistan's strategy to map Indian military installations, gather intelligence, carry out limited attacks and overwhelm air defences in the days following India's launch of Operation Sindoor against terror infrastructure in Pakistan, The Indian Express has learnt. According to military sources, a day after India launched its military offensive, Pakistan started sending across swarms of drones at multiple locations across the western front — from Baramulla to Barmer. This continued for four days, including two days after the DGMOs of both sides agreed to a ceasefire. While the first wave had a few armed drones on the night of May 8, there were more in the second wave of drones sent across the next night. About 300-400 drones were sent in swarms in each wave of intrusions, said sources. The following two nights saw limited drone intrusions — Pakistan denied involvement, particularly in the intrusions that took place after both sides agreed on a ceasefire. 'Many of these drones were small ones, without any camera or other surveillance device. The aim was to clutter the radars beyond their capacity, gather intelligence on Indian air defence deployments and find gaps in the air defence network for future exploitation,' a source told The Indian Express. The source said another aim was to exhaust Indian ammunition and missiles as well as to record the location of the Indian air defence systems and overwhelm them. 'With drones, there was a deniability factor as well, particularly in the wake of the ceasefire, to reject allegations of any violation of the agreement… This was more valid for drones without any surveillance device or armament,' the source said, adding that the drone intrusions led to a significant expenditure of Indian ammunition. 'The sheer volume helped create fear among the civilian population during this period,' the source said. According to sources, Pakistan also used LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) technology in the surveillance drones sent across to map Indian military installations and other critical locations. While the origin of all the drones is not clear, India has said that some Turkish UAVs were used in the strikes launched by Pakistan. A range of air defence platforms and equipment deployed by India had effectively tracked and downed these drones soon after the intrusions, using surface to air missiles and air defence guns. 'A bulk of these drones in Jammu and Kashmir were shot down by the Army's legacy Soviet-origin L/70 guns using indigenous ammunition, thus preserving other sophisticated and new generation missiles for other roles,' another source said. On Monday, the Armed Forces released visual evidence of the damage inflicted at Pakistani airbases and of various Pakistani drones and missiles that were intercepted and destroyed by Indian air defence systems. They said older and battle-proven AD weapons like the Pechora, OSA-AK and the LLAD guns played a key role in countering the Pakistani threat vectors in the current operations, while underlining the stellar performance of indigenous AD weapons like the Akash system.
Time of India
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Uttam urges swift completion of irrigation projects in Telangana
1 2 3 Hyderabad: Irrigation minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy on Sunday directed irrigation officials and implementing agencies to expedite the completion of all ongoing irrigation projects in the state, stressing that the Congress govt was committed to delivering more ayacut with less expenditure. He said that a comprehensive review of irrigation projects was held on May 14 at Jala Soudha with chief minister A Revanth Reddy, during which clear timelines were set for the completion of each ongoing and pending scheme. "All works must be taken up on a war footing. Special focus was being laid on speeding up five key projects in the combined Mahabubnagar district - Kalwakurthy, Nettempadu, Bhima, Koilsagar, and Palamuru-Ranga Reddy. The SLBC, Dindi, and Udayasamudram projects in the combined Nalgonda district, and the Sitarama project in the combined Khammam district, were also prioritised in the recent review. Completion of the Devadula and Gauravelli projects in North Telangana was also identified as a high priority," he said. He added that works on the Tummadihatti project would begin shortly. "We are exploring the most advanced technology available globally to continue the SLBC tunnel works. A Heliborne Electromagnetic Survey and LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) surveys would be conducted by involving the National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI) and other national institutions before resuming construction," he said.
