Synchronization of multiple lidar systems

A LIDAR system for a host vehicle, comprising:

• a laser emission unit configured to generate at least one laser beam;
• a scanning unit configured to deflect the at least one laser beam toward a field of view of the LIDAR system, wherein the unit scanning is further configured to cyclically scan the at least one laser beam over the field of view of the LIDAR system during a plurality of frame capture events, wherein each frame capture event corresponds to one complete scan cycle relative to the field of view of the LIDAR system;
• and
• at least one processor programmed to:
• determine an actual frame capture progression for the LIDAR system based on an actual frame capture rate of the scanning unit;
• receive, from a location external to the LIDAR system, an indicator of a current external time;
• determine an expected frame capture progression for the LIDAR system based on a target frame capture rate for the scanning unit and based on the indicator of the current external time;
• and
• adjust the actual frame capture rate of the scanning unit in response to a detected difference between the actual frame capture progression and the expected frame capture progression,
• wherein the actual frame capture progression is determined based on a time period from a LIDAR system scan initiation time to the current external time.