Imaging systems and methods for tracking objects

A method of operation in an imaging system to image objects in an environment, the method comprising:

• capturing images of an environment with a first imager having a first imager field-of view;
• steering, with a steering component, at least a portion of the first imager field-of-view relative to one or more objects in the environment;
• scanning, with an object tracking subsystem, a plurality of objects that enter the environment to distinguish between objects of the plurality of objects as being either an object of interest or an object not of interest and track the object of interest based on a characteristic of the object of interest;
• and
• causing, with the object tracking subsystem, the steering component to steer the first imager field-of-view to an initial scan position at a first speed such that the identified object of interest is positioned within the first imager field-of-view and then to pan the first field of view of the first imager at a second speed, the second speed slower than the first speed.