A method, comprising: projecting a projection pattern onto a spherical surface of an object from a projection point of a distance sensor, wherein the projection pattern is created by a plurality of beams of light projected from the projection point, wherein the plurality of beams of light creates a plurality of projection artifacts that is arranged in a grid on the spherical surface of the object, wherein a center projection artifact of the plurality of projection artifacts lies at an intersection of a longitude line of the grid and a latitude line of the grid, wherein each projection artifact of the plurality of projection artifacts has a trajectory, and wherein the trajectory of a given projection artifact of the plurality of projection artifacts describes a movement of the given projection artifact on the surface of the object as the distance from a baseline of the distance sensor to the object changes, wherein the baseline of the distance sensor comprises a lateral distance between a central axis of the projection point and a central axis of a lens of the distance sensor; adjusting a projection of the plurality of beams so that at least one of the longitude line and the latitude line is rotated from an original position to a new position that results in a shape of the projection pattern on the spherical surface curving to conform to the spherical surface, wherein the curving minimizes an overlap of the trajectory of the given projection artifact with a trajectory of another projection artifact of the plurality of projection artifacts; capturing an image of the object, including at least a portion of the projection pattern after the adjusting; and calculating a distance from the distance sensor to the object using information from the image. projecting a projection pattern onto a spherical surface of an object from a projection point of a distance sensor, wherein the projection pattern is created by a plurality of beams of light projected from the projection point, wherein the plurality of beams of light creates a plurality of projection artifacts that is arranged in a grid on the spherical surface of the object, wherein a center projection artifact of the plurality of projection artifacts lies at an intersection of a longitude line of the grid and a latitude line of the grid, wherein each projection artifact of the plurality of projection artifacts has a trajectory, and wherein the trajectory of a given projection artifact of the plurality of projection artifacts describes a movement of the given projection artifact on the surface of the object as the distance from a baseline of the distance sensor to the object changes, wherein the baseline of the distance sensor comprises a lateral distance between a central axis of the projection point and a central axis of a lens of the distance sensor; adjusting a projection of the plurality of beams so that at least one of the longitude line and the latitude line is rotated from an original position to a new position that results in a shape of the projection pattern on the spherical surface curving to conform to the spherical surface, wherein the curving minimizes an overlap of the trajectory of the given projection artifact with a trajectory of another projection artifact of the plurality of projection artifacts; capturing an image of the object, including at least a portion of the projection pattern after the adjusting; and calculating a distance from the distance sensor to the object using information from the image.