Methods and systems for controlling operation of a laser device

A system comprising:

• at least one processor;
• and
• data storage comprising instructions, that when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to perform functions comprising:
• receiving an output of a proximity sensor that is positioned adjacent to a laser device, wherein the laser device is configured to emit laser pulses;
• determining based on the output of the proximity sensor that one or more objects are within a threshold distance to the laser device;
• receiving laser data collected from scans of an environment by the laser device, wherein the laser data includes a plurality of laser data points indicative of the one or more objects in the environment;
• making a determination of whether the one or more objects are within the threshold distance to the laser device based on the laser data;
• when the laser device is emitting laser pulses, providing instructions to discontinue the emission of laser pulses by the laser device based on the output of the proximity sensor and the laser data both being indicative of the one or more objects being within the threshold distance to the laser device;
• and
• when the laser device is inactive, providing instructions to prevent the emission of laser pulses by the laser device based on the output of the proximity sensor being indicative of the one or more objects being within the threshold distance to the laser device.

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored therein instructions, that when executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform functions comprising:

• receiving an output of a proximity sensor that is positioned adjacent to a laser device, wherein the laser device is configured to emit laser pulses;
• determining based on the output of the proximity sensor that one or more objects are within a threshold distance to the laser device;
• receiving laser data collected from scans of an environment by the laser device, wherein the laser data includes a plurality of laser data points indicative of the one or more objects in the environment;
• making a determination of whether the one or more objects are within the threshold distance to the laser device based on the laser data;
• when the laser device is emitting laser pulses, providing instructions to discontinue the emission of laser pulses by the laser device based on the output of the proximity sensor and the laser data both being indicative of the one or more objects being within the threshold distance to the laser device;
• and
• when the laser device is inactive, providing instructions to prevent the emission of laser pulses by the laser device based on the output of the proximity sensor being indicative of the one or more objects being within the threshold distance to the laser device.