A light curtain control system for tuning a light curtain's operating margin individually for each channel to facilitate optimal object detection in a range of variable operating conditions, comprising: a memory that stores computer-executable components; and a processor, operatively coupled to the memory, that executes the computer-executable components, the computer-executable components comprising: an emitter control component configured to select an emitter element of a channel of a light curtain and instruct the emitter element to emit a light beam; a margin measurement component configured to determine an operating margin for the channel based on a measured signal generated by a receiver element of the channel in response to receipt of the light beam; and a margin adjustment component configured to adjust the operating margin for the channel based on a comparison of the operating margin with a defined margin criterion, characterised in that the margin adjustment component is further configured to adjust the operating margin by: increasing a beam intensity setting of the emitter element if the operating margin is to be increased to satisfy the defined margin criterion, and if a maximum beam intensity is reached, increasing an amplifier gain setting of the receiver element until the determined operating margin satisfies the defined margin criterion; and decreasing the amplifier gain setting of the receiver element if the operating margin is to be decreased to satisfy the defined margin criterion, and if the amplifier gain setting of the receiver element reaches a minimum value, decreasing the beam intensity until the operating margin satisfies the defined margin criterion. a memory that stores computer-executable components; and a processor, operatively coupled to the memory, that executes the computer-executable components, the computer-executable components comprising: an emitter control component configured to select an emitter element of a channel of a light curtain and instruct the emitter element to emit a light beam; a margin measurement component configured to determine an operating margin for the channel based on a measured signal generated by a receiver element of the channel in response to receipt of the light beam; and a margin adjustment component configured to adjust the operating margin for the channel based on a comparison of the operating margin with a defined margin criterion, characterised in that the margin adjustment component is further configured to adjust the operating margin by: increasing a beam intensity setting of the emitter element if the operating margin is to be increased to satisfy the defined margin criterion, and if a maximum beam intensity is reached, increasing an amplifier gain setting of the receiver element until the determined operating margin satisfies the defined margin criterion; and decreasing the amplifier gain setting of the receiver element if the operating margin is to be decreased to satisfy the defined margin criterion, and if the amplifier gain setting of the receiver element reaches a minimum value, decreasing the beam intensity until the operating margin satisfies the defined margin criterion. an emitter control component configured to select an emitter element of a channel of a light curtain and instruct the emitter element to emit a light beam; a margin measurement component configured to determine an operating margin for the channel based on a measured signal generated by a receiver element of the channel in response to receipt of the light beam; and a margin adjustment component configured to adjust the operating margin for the channel based on a comparison of the operating margin with a defined margin criterion, characterised in that the margin adjustment component is further configured to adjust the operating margin by: increasing a beam intensity setting of the emitter element if the operating margin is to be increased to satisfy the defined margin criterion, and if a maximum beam intensity is reached, increasing an amplifier gain setting of the receiver element until the determined operating margin satisfies the defined margin criterion; and decreasing the amplifier gain setting of the receiver element if the operating margin is to be decreased to satisfy the defined margin criterion, and if the amplifier gain setting of the receiver element reaches a minimum value, decreasing the beam intensity until the operating margin satisfies the defined margin criterion. increasing a beam intensity setting of the emitter element if the operating margin is to be increased to satisfy the defined margin criterion, and if a maximum beam intensity is reached, increasing an amplifier gain setting of the receiver element until the determined operating margin satisfies the defined margin criterion; and decreasing the amplifier gain setting of the receiver element if the operating margin is to be decreased to satisfy the defined margin criterion, and if the amplifier gain setting of the receiver element reaches a minimum value, decreasing the beam intensity until the operating margin satisfies the defined margin criterion.