What may reduce the operational range of the lidar instrument?

The operational range of a lidar instrument can indeed be significantly reduced by factors such as panning, the sweep effect, and adverse weather conditions.

When panning occurs, the lidar is not stabilized and may miss capturing accurate readings because it is not aimed consistently at the target. This can lead to a loss of reflected signals, thus reducing the effective detection range. The sweep effect refers to the motion across a scene that can also impact accuracy, as continuous movement can blur or distort the measurements taken.

Moreover, bad weather conditions—including rain, fog, or snow—can attenuate the lidar's laser beams. These atmospheric conditions can scatter the light or absorb it, leading to a decrease in the detection range as well. All of these factors combined can lead to weaker signals and increased difficulty in accurately measuring speeds at greater distances.

In contrast, while improper calibration and short battery life can affect the performance of the lidar, they do not specifically reduce its operational range in the context of detecting speed as explicitly as the listed factors. Distance from the target would also impact the effectiveness of speed detection, but it is a more straightforward aspect of lidar use rather than an operational range issue linked to environmental interference or device handling.