System and method for multi-area LIDAR ranging

A system for sensing one or more objects, comprising:

• a propagation wave source configured to output propagated waves;
• a sensor configured to receive a reflection of propagated waves;
• a processor coupled to the propagation wave source and the sensor, the processor configured to:
• output, via the propagation wave source and toward a field of view (FOV), at least one propagated wave at a first power;
• receive, via the sensor, a reflection of the at least one propagated wave at the first power reflected off one or more objects within the FOV;
• sense the one or more objects within the FOV based at least in part on the reflection of the at least one propagated wave
• classify one or more areas within the FOV into safe areas and unsafe areas based at least in part on the sensed one or more objects, wherein the safe areas are deemed to be safe to receive at least one propagated wave at a second power;
• output, via the propagation source and toward the safe area, the at least one propagated wave at the second power;
• and
• perform, via the processor, a ranging operation based on the at least one propagated wave at the second power.

An apparatus for sensing one or more objects comprising:

• means for outputting, toward a field of view (FOV), at least one propagated wave at a first power;
• means for receiving a reflection of the at least one propagated wave at the first power reflected off one or more objects within the FOV;
• means for sensing the one or more objects within the FOV based at least in part on the reflection of the at least one propagated wave;
• means for classifying one or more areas within the FOV into safe areas and unsafe areas based at least in part on the sensed one or more objects, wherein the safe areas are deemed to be safe to receive at least one propagated wave at a second power;
• means for outputting, toward the safe area, the at least one propagated wave at the second power;
• and
• means for performing a ranging operation based on the at least one propagated wave at the second power.

One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed, cause one or more computing devices to:

• output, toward a field of view (FOV), at least one propagated wave at a first power;
• receive a reflection of the at least one propagated wave at the first power reflected off one or more objects within the FOV;
• sense the one or more objects within the FOV based at least in part on the reflection of the at least one propagated wave;
• classify one or more areas within the FOV into safe areas and unsafe areas based at least in part on the sensed one or more objects, wherein the safe areas are deemed to be safe to receive at least one propagated wave at a second power;
• output, toward the safe area, the at least one propagated wave at the second power;
• and
• perform a ranging operation based on the at least one propagated wave at the second power.