Systems and methods for adaptive range coverage using LIDAR

A method comprising:

• determining, for at least one light-emitter device of a plurality of light-emitter devices, a light pulse schedule, wherein the plurality of light-emitter devices is operable to emit light along a plurality of emission vectors, wherein the light pulse schedule is based on a respective emission vector of the at least one light-emitter device and a three-dimensional map of an external environment, wherein the three-dimensional map is a topographical map, and wherein the light pulse schedule comprises at least one light pulse parameter and a listening window duration;
• adjusting the light pulse schedule based on a contour line that extends around a vehicle, and wherein the contour line is determined based on the topographic map;
• and
• causing the at least one light-emitter device of the plurality of light-emitter devices to emit a light pulse according to the adjusted light pulse schedule, wherein the light pulse interacts with the external environment.

A system comprising:

• a plurality of light-emitter devices, wherein the plurality of light-emitter devices is operable to emit light along a plurality of emission vectors such that the emitted light interacts with an external environment of the system;
• a receiver subsystem configured to provide information indicative of interactions between the emitted light and the external environment;
• and
• a controller operable to carry out operations, the operations comprising:
• determining, for at least one light-emitter device of the plurality of light-emitter devices, a light pulse schedule, wherein the light pulse schedule is based on a respective emission vector of the at least one light emitter device and a three-dimensional map of the external environment, wherein the three-dimensional map is a topographical map, and wherein the light pulse schedule comprises at least one light pulse parameter and a listening window duration;
• adjusting the light pulse schedule based on a contour line that extends around the system, wherein the contour line is determined based on the topographic map;
• and
• causing the at least one light-emitter device of the plurality of light-emitter devices to emit a first light pulse according to the adjusted light pulse schedule and a second light pulse according to a default light pulse schedule.