LIDAR SYSTEMS AND METHODS

Systems and methods use LIDAR technology to, for example detect objects in an environment. In one implementation, a LIDAR system includes at least one processor configured to: control at least one light source in a manner enabling light flux to vary over a scan of a field of view using light from the at least one light source; control at least one light deflector to deflect light from the at least one light source in order to scan the field of view; use first detected reflections associated with a scan of a first portion of the field of view to determine an existence of a first object in the first portion at a first distance; determine an absence of objects in a second portion of the field of view at the first distance; following the detection of the first reflections and the determination of the absence of objects in the second portion, alter a light source parameter such that more light is projected toward the second portion of the field of view than is projected toward the first portion of the field of view; and use second detected reflections in the second portion of the field of view to determine an existence of a second object at a second distance greater than the first distance.