Dynamic mode of operation based on driving environment

A method for detecting objects in a path of a vehicle using LIDAR, the method comprising:

• controlling at least one light source in a manner enabling light flux of the at least one light source to vary over scans of a field of view;
• controlling at least one light deflector to deflect light from the at least one light source in order to scan the field of view;
• receiving input indicative of a current driving environment of the vehicle;
• and
• based on the current driving environment, coordinating the control of the at least one light source control with the control of the at least one light deflector to dynamically adjust an instantaneous detection distance by varying an amount of light projected and a spatial light distribution of light across the scan of the field of view.

A vehicle, comprising:

• a vehicle body;
• at least one processor located within the vehicle body and configured to:
• control at least one light source in a manner enabling light flux of the at least one light source to vary over scans of a field of view;
• control at least one light deflector to deflect light from the at least one light source in order to scan the field of view;
• receive input indicative of a current driving environment;
• and
• based on the current driving environment, coordinate control of the at least one light source with control of the at least one light deflector control to dynamically adjust an instantaneous detection distance by varying an amount of light projected and a spatial light distribution of light across the scan of the field of view.