Long range steerable LIDAR system

1. A device comprising:

a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) device, wherein the LIDAR device is configured to obtain data within a first region, and wherein the LIDAR device comprises:

a light source configured to emit light; and

a plurality of detectors;

a further LIDAR device, wherein the further LIDAR device is configured to obtain data within a second region, and wherein the first and second regions do not fully overlap horizontally; and

a controller configured to:

receive target or directional information based on an initial three-dimensional (3D) representation of an environment of the device;

in response to receiving the target or directional information, cause an adjustment to a pointing direction of the LIDAR device;

cause the LIDAR device to scan a field-of-view (FOV) of the environment; and

provide information indicative of a 3D representation of the environment based on data from scanning the FOV.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the light source comprises a laser.

3. The device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a housing, wherein at least the scanning portion is disposed within the housing, and wherein a wall of the housing comprises a light filter configured to allow the emitted light to propagate through the light filter; and

a rotational mount configured to rotate at least a portion of the LIDAR device about a second axis.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein the housing is positioned at a top side of a vehicle, wherein the second axis comprises an axis passing through the top side of the vehicle, and wherein the rotational mount is configured to rotate within a 360 degree range of motion about the second axis.

5. The device of claim 3 wherein the light filter has a dome shape, and wherein the light filter is configured to attenuate visible light propagating into the housing.

6. A system comprising:

a vehicle;

a sensing device configured to provide environmental data indicative of an environment around the vehicle, wherein the sensing device is coupled to the vehicle;

a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) device, wherein the LIDAR device is configured to obtain data within a first region, and wherein the LIDAR device is coupled to the vehicle;

a further LIDAR device, wherein the further LIDAR device is configured to obtain data within a second region, and wherein the first and second regions do not fully overlap horizontally; and

a controller configured to:

receive the environmental data from the sensing device, wherein the environmental data comprises target or directional information based on an initial three-dimensional (3D) representation of an environment of the vehicle;

cause an adjustment to a pointing direction of the LIDAR device based at least on the target or directional information;

cause the LIDAR device to scan a field-of-view (FOV) of the environment; and

providing information indicative of a 3D representation of the environment based on data from scanning the FOV.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the LIDAR device comprises a light source, wherein the light source comprises a laser.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the laser is configured to emit light having a wavelength of 1550 nm.

9. The system of claim 6 wherein the LIDAR device further comprises a scanning portion.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein at least the scanning portion of the LIDAR device is disposed within a housing, wherein the housing is positioned at a top side of the vehicle, wherein a second axis comprises an axis passing through the top side of the vehicle, and wherein a rotational mount is configured to rotate at least a portion of the LIDAR device within a 360 degree range of motion about the second axis.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the housing comprises a light filter, wherein the light filter has a dome shape, and wherein the light filter is configured to attenuate visible light propagating into the housing.

12. The system of claim 6 , wherein the target or directional information is further indicative of at least one of: a type of object, a size of an object, a shape of an object, a position, a location, or an angle range.

13. A method comprising:

receiving target or directional information by a controller of a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) device configured to obtain data within a first region, wherein the target or directional information is based on an initial three-dimensional (3D) representation of an environment of the LIDAR device and is indicative at least one of: a type of object, a size of an object, a shape of an object, a distance, a position, or an angle range;

in response to receiving the target or directional information, causing the LIDAR device to adjust a pointing direction of the LIDAR device;

causing a light source of the LIDAR device to emit light, wherein the light source comprises a laser;

causing the LIDAR device to scan a field-of-view (FOV) of the environment, wherein the FOV extends away from the LIDAR device along the pointing direction;

determining a 3D representation of the environment based on data from scanning the FOV; and

causing a further LIDAR configured to obtain data within a second region, wherein the first and second regions do not fully overlap horizontally, to scan a FOV of the environment corresponding to a second region; and

determining a 3D representation of the environment corresponding to the second region.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the LIDAR device is coupled to a rotational mount, and wherein adjusting the pointing direction of the LIDAR device comprises causing the rotational mount to rotate at least a portion of the LIDAR device about a rotational axis.

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising identifying at least one object in the environment based on the 3D representation.

16. The system of claim 6 wherein the sensing device comprises at least one of a RADAR device, a sonar transducer, and a second LIDAR device.

17. The device of claim 1 wherein the LIDAR device and the further LIDAR device are independently movable.

18. The method of claim 13 wherein causing the further LIDAR to scan a FOV of the environment comprises causing the further LIDAR to move independently of the LIDAR device.

19. The device of claim 1 wherein the first region extends further from the device than the second region.

20. The device of claim 1 wherein the first region is horizontally entirely within the second region.